US returns over 1,400 smuggled artefacts to India

The United States returned over 1,440 looted artifacts worth $10 million to India, including sacred temple idols that were smuggled to America. The returned artifacts were officially handed over during a ceremony attended by representatives from the Indian Consulate and Homeland Security Investigations.

The return of the artifacts was announced by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. He stated, "We will continue to investigate the many trafficking networks that have targeted Indian cultural heritage." Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Group Supervisor Alexandrea De Armas returned the artworks at a ceremony organized at the Indian Consulate General.

The announcement was reported by ABP News, CNN, and Hindi News. 

Among the returned antiquities are significant pieces such as a sandstone sculpture depicting a Celestial Dancer looted from a temple in Madhya Pradesh in the early 1980s and a Tanesar Mother Goddess carved from green-grey schist, looted from Rajasthan in the 1960s. The Celestial Dancer statue was smuggled from central India to London, where it was cleaved into two halves to facilitate smuggling and illicit sale. By February 1992, the two halves were illegally imported from London into New York, professionally reassembled, and sold illegally to a patron of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The patron later donated the statue to the museum, where it remained on display until it was seized by the Manhattan Prosecutor's Antiquities Trafficking Unit (ATU) in 2023.

The Tanesar Mother Goddess sculpture was first documented in the late 1950s by an Indian archaeologist along with 11 other sculptures of mother goddesses. These sculptures were stolen one evening in the early 1960s from the village of Tanesara-Mahadeva in Rajasthan. Most of the ancient artifacts are terracotta artifacts from eastern India, while others are made of stone, metal, wood, and ivory and are related to different parts of the country.

The recovered smuggled items included pieces that were on display until recently at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office stated that the restitution occurred as a result of "numerous ongoing investigations" related to looting networks. These investigations included those run by convicted art dealers Nancy Wiener and Subhash Kapoor. Both were sentenced to 10 years in prison for running a multimillion-dollar looting network through galleries in New York.

Subhash Kapoor is an American art dealer who was convicted in India. He was sent to face charges in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu after being arrested in Germany in 2011. He is still in custody in India, awaiting extradition to the United States. Nancy Wiener was convicted in America. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office obtained an arrest warrant for Subhash Kapoor in 2012.

"The items returned today are a symbol of another victory in a multi-year, international investigation into antiquities trafficked by one of the most notorious criminals," Homeland Security Investigations New York's Special Agent in Charge, William S. Walker, said.

"Today's return is a symbol of an international investigation that has been ongoing for many years." He also stated, "This investigation is about ancient objects stolen by one of history's most notorious criminals."

Since 2016, the total number of cultural artifacts returned from the United States to India has reached 578, demonstrating the commitment of the U.S. to its friendship with India. This is the maximum number of cultural artifacts returned to India by any country. The return of these artifacts underscores the ongoing efforts by both India and the United States to strengthen their cultural and diplomatic ties. India and America are continuously strengthening their relations.

In July, India and the United States signed their first "Cultural Property Agreement" to prevent and control the illegal trafficking of antiquities from India to the United States. The agreement was signed by the Indian Ministry of Culture's secretary, Govind Mohan, and the U.S. Ambassador to India, H.E. Eric Garcetti. In a press release from the Indian Ministry of Culture, it was stated, "Most of the ancient artifacts are terracotta artifacts from eastern India, while others are made of stone, metal, wood, and ivory and are related to different parts of the country."

The Manhattan District Attorney's Office has been instrumental in these efforts. During Alvin L. Bragg, Jr.'s tenure, the District Attorney's Antiquities Trafficking Unit recovered just over 2,100 antiquities stolen from more than 30 countries and valued at almost USD 230 million. The unit has convicted 16 individuals of trafficking crimes and has sought the extradition of six others involved with stolen cultural properties. Since its establishment over a decade ago, the Antiquities Trafficking Unit has recovered 5,800 artifacts valued at approximately $460 million.

The return of these artifacts marks a significant step in preserving cultural heritage and combating the illegal trafficking of antiquities. It highlights the collaborative efforts between nations to ensure that stolen artifacts are returned to their rightful place. The program was represented by Consul General Manish Kulhari.

The move demonstrates the U.S.'s commitment to its friendship with India. With the return of these 1,440 artifacts, both nations are taking a strong stand against the illicit trade of cultural properties. The artifacts returned are not only of significant monetary value but also hold immense cultural and historical importance. This event signifies a continued effort to strengthen bilateral relations and protect cultural heritage.

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq