American woman accused of smuggling Mayan relics in Guatemala 

Officials in Guatemala announced the arrest of an American woman who was found trying to smuggle 166 Mayan artifacts out of the Central American country last week, reported The Associated Press. The woman had been previously caught at the airport days before trying to smuggle out two 1,000-year-old relics.

Last Thursday, Stephanie Allison Jolluck was stopped by airport officials after inspectors found the weight of her luggage suspicious. When they opened it, they found two large Maya stone carvings made between 600 and 900 A.D.

She told authorities she bought the artifacts in the tourist city of Antigua, Guatemala. A judge released her on a form of personal recognizance. 

However, on Sunday, she was traveling in a car with another American, Giorgio Salvador Rossilli, when they were stopped by the police. Authorities said she was carrying dozens of other relics in the car. 

Archeologists said that around 90% of the items found were authentic pre-hispanis relics. 

Jolluck, 49, was charged with “smuggling national treasures.” She was released on bail on the condition that she does not leave Guatemala. 

The U.S. consulate did not release any information about the case due to privacy concerns. 

Guatemala’s Culture Ministry said the two stone carvings are known as Mayan “axes,” named after their shape. They are thought to be associated with the scared ball game of the Mayans.