CBP Import Specialists Seize Egyptian Artifacts

CBP said officers and import specialists from the Import Specialist Enforcement Team (ISET) at the Laredo Port of Entry recently seized two priceless Egyptian sarcophagi-type artifacts. The artifacts, two sarcophagi, one adorned with a wooden mask with glass eyes and the other with a standing lady of painted stucco over linen, were found to be the rightful property of Egypt.

A CBP officer at World Trade Bridge selected a shipment manifested as Egyptian sculptures for an enforcement examination, said CBP. CBP officers discovered that the shipment included possible Egyptian antiquities and contacted ISET. Laredo ISET had recently been made aware of possible stolen artifacts of Egyptian origin and contacted Laredo Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for further investigation. Laredo HSI contacted the Egyptian Ministry of State for Antiquities and discovered that the artifacts were the property of Egypt. Proper export documentation from the Egyptian government is required to transport the artifacts out of their country of origin. CBP on July 9 determined that the artifacts, which are deemed priceless, would be seized due to a lack of export documentation to substantiate legal exportation of the artifacts from Egypt, said CBP.