Calabria, 23 arrests for trafficking in archaeological goods from clandestine excavations

A wide-ranging operation by the Carabinieri’s Cultural Heritage Protection Unit, under the coordination of the Crotone Public Prosecutor’s Office, led to the execution of 23 precautionary custodial measures (in Calabria but also abroad) against the alleged members of a criminal activity active in the management of trafficking in archaeological goods from clandestine excavations: the finds were then illegally sent to Italy and abroad. A total of 123 people are under investigation, including four individuals domiciled abroad. The investigations were launched in 2017, and thanks to the work of the Carabinieri, several finds were recovered, worth several million euros. By virtue of the fact that the operation also involved a number of foreign countries, the Carabinieri enlisted the cooperation of Europol and Eurojust.

The sites that, according to investigators, suffered the illicit export of goods are those in Cirò Marina, Capo Colonna, Castiglione di Paludi, and Cerasello. Other clandestine excavations were conducted at several private properties located in the provinces of Crotone and Cosenza. The grave robbers carried out the operations with bulldozers and sophisticated metal detectors. The investigations started from some reports from the superintendence that had detected strange craters in some archaeological areas: a presence later actually ascertained thanks to the use of drones, which also documented the activity of the grave robbers.

“Thanks to sophisticated investigative techniques and the collaboration of Europol and the relevant foreign police forces in Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Germany and Serbia,” said Cultural Heritage Minister Dario Franceschini, “the Carabinieri Tutela Patrimonio Culturale Command has successfully completed a vast operation to combat the illicit trafficking of archaeological finds from Calabria to northern Italy and abroad, recovering thousands of assets and seizing materials used for clandestine excavations. An operation that once again demonstrates the excellence of the Carabinieri Command, which has been working since 1969 to defend Italy’s cultural heritage. To them, to the Crotone Public Prosecutor’s Office, which directed the investigation, and to all those involved, goes the applause of the Italian government.”

Calabria, 23 arrests for trafficking in archaeological goods from clandestine excavations

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