November 16, 2024: In a significant move to combat the illicit trafficking of cultural heritage, the United States announced the return of over 1,400 looted artefacts valued at $10 million to India. The artifacts, many of which were once displayed in prominent museums, were formally handed over in a ceremony at the Indian Consulate in New York on Wednesday. This repatriation is part of an ongoing initiative to address the widespread smuggling of art and antiquities from South and Southeast Asia.

The recovered items include a diverse range of priceless artefacts, such as a sandstone sculpture of a celestial dancer, which was illegally trafficked from central India to London before being sold to a New York-based collector. This artefact was subsequently donated to the prestigious Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it remained until its recovery.

According to the Manhattan District Attorney's office, the artifacts were recovered as part of a broader investigation into criminal trafficking networks, many of which were run by notorious antiquities dealer Subhash Kapoor and convicted art trafficker Nancy Wiener. Kapoor, once a well-known figure in the antiquities market, was arrested in Germany and later extradited to India, where he is currently serving a prison sentence for his role in trafficking looted artifacts.

"Today's repatriation marks another victory in what has been a multi-year, international investigation into antiquities trafficked by one of history's most prolific offenders," said William S. Walker, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations New York, in a statement issued by the Manhattan DA’s office.

The return of the artifacts is part of a broader effort to strengthen global cooperation in the fight against cultural property crimes. In July, India and the United States signed the first-ever "Cultural Property Agreement," aimed at preventing the illegal trafficking of antiquities from India to the US. The agreement, which was signed by Indian Ministry of Culture Secretary Govind Mohan and US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti, lays the foundation for future cooperation in protecting India’s rich cultural heritage.

The repatriation underscores the growing international focus on combating the illicit trade in cultural artifacts, which has seen an alarming rise in recent decades. It also highlights the importance of cross-border collaboration between law enforcement agencies and cultural institutions in returning stolen art to its rightful home.