Italian police have announced a major operation resulting in the recovery of several thousand artifacts of cultural and financial significance, many of which were taken from archaeological sites and graves. The operation, which involved hundreds of officers, resulted in the arrest of 21 out of 51 suspects on charges including clandestine excavations, illegal possession and trade of stolen goods, and illegal international trafficking of artifacts.
Among the thousands of items recovered in various regions of Italy were coins dating back as far as the 4th century BC, loom weights, cups, plates, oil lamps and other objects of artistic and historical value. The original owners of many of these items were likely grave robbers from the regions of Campania, Puglia and Basilicata, who trafficked the objects across Italy and internationally to buyers in the art world.
According to Renato Nitti, chief prosecutor in charge of the investigation, the recovered artifacts are largely undocumented and believed to be previously undiscovered pieces taken directly from unexplored dig sites. Since many of these objects could offer insight into the cultural and historical heritage of Italy, the operation is being seen as a success in protecting the country's invaluable archaeological heritage.
The operation has also shown that the country still holds vast amounts of treasures, which attract robbers and unscrupulous traffickers. The recovery of these artifacts will not only contribute to the preservation of Italy's cultural heritage, but also send a message to those involved in the illegal trade of cultural objects that such activities will not go unpunished.