In a significant move aimed at preserving cultural heritage, the United States has returned more than 1,400 looted artifacts worth $10 million to India. This repatriation is part of an ongoing effort to restore stolen art and artifacts from across South and Southeast Asia, the Manhattan District Attorney’s office announced on Wednesday. The returned artifacts include items that were once displayed at New York’s renowned Metropolitan Museum of Art, marking a key milestone in the fight against illegal art trafficking.
Among the repatriated artifacts is a sandstone sculpture of a celestial dancer, which was originally smuggled from central India to London. The artifact was subsequently sold illegally to one of the Met’s patrons before being donated to the museum. The return of such items highlights the success of the ongoing investigations into looting networks that have been profiting off stolen cultural heritage.
The investigations, which culminated in the recent repatriation, targeted notorious antiquities traffickers, including Nancy Wiener and Subhash Kapoor. Kapoor, an American antiquities dealer, was known for running a multimillion-dollar looting network through his New York gallery. In a major breakthrough, Kapoor was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in trafficking stolen artifacts. He was initially arrested in Germany in 2011 and later extradited to India, where he is currently in custody in Tamil Nadu, pending further legal actions, including extradition to the United States. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office had obtained an arrest warrant for Kapoor in 2012.
“Today’s repatriation marks another victory in what has been a multiyear international investigation into antiquities trafficked by one of history’s most prolific offenders,” said William Walker, the federal Homeland Security Investigation’s New York special agent in charge. His statement emphasises the determination of authorities to hold accountable those who profit from cultural theft.
The repatriation ceremony took place on Wednesday at the Indian consulate in New York, where officials formally handed over the artifacts to India. This gesture not only symbolises a step toward rectifying historical wrongs but also strengthens diplomatic ties between the two nations.
The return of these stolen artifacts is a testament to the commitment of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Antiquities Trafficking Unit, which has worked tirelessly over the past decade to recover looted cultural treasures. Since its inception, the unit has successfully recovered 5,800 antiquities valued at nearly $460 million and has convicted 16 individuals involved in the illicit trade of cultural property. Additionally, the unit has filed for the extradition of six others linked to looting and trafficking activities.
In July, the United States and India signed an agreement designed to protect cultural property by preventing illegal trade and simplifying the process of returning stolen antiquities. This bilateral agreement is a positive step toward ensuring that stolen cultural heritage is returned to its rightful owners and preserved for future generations. Such international collaborations underscore the growing recognition of the importance of safeguarding cultural heritage against theft and exploitation.