Egypt Daily News – The Public Prosecution in Alexandria ordered detaining two persons who were found in possession of 448 sunken antiquities while they were being displayed for sale.
Investigations revealed that Tourism and Antiquities Investigation officers received information from jewelers in Alexandria indicating that two people were offering antiquities for sale.
A research team was formed in coordination with public security inspectors in Alexandria. Investigations confirmed the accuracy of the information and found that one of the accused is a registered criminal.
Through intensified investigations, the accused’s hiding place was determined. They were arrested in an ambush prepared for them, and a number of (448 various antiquities) were seized in their possession, as follows (53 statues with various inscriptions – 3 statue heads – 12 spears with human heads – 14 bronze cups – 41 axes). It has archaeological inscriptions – 20 pieces of bronze – 305 coins with archaeological inscriptions).
The defendants admitted to possessing antiquities with the intention of selling of smuggling them.
They revealed that they obtained the seized items from diving in Abu Qir Bay, east of Alexandria, where they decided to imitate the missions to recover sunken antiquities in Alexandria, which operate in the Eastern Port and Abu Qir areas.
By presenting the seized items to the experts of the Antiquities Authority in the Alexandria region, they confirmed that all of the seized antiquities were among the sunken antiquities and dated back to the Greek and Roman eras.
The prosecution ordered the defendants to be detained pending investigation
