Investigators seize ancient artifacts from NYC Metropolitan Museum of Art

Investigators with the Manhattan district attorney’s office have seized nearly 30 ancient artifacts from the city’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, with the seizures coming from a special investigation unit dedicated to stolen antiquities.

The artifacts—from ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt—were reportedly valued at around $13 million, the New York Times reports. The investigations were carried out over the past six months involving three separate search warrants. 

The majority of the 27 items seized will be repatriated back to Italy, while six will be returned to Egypt. 

The Met told the Times that it was fully cooperating with the investigations. 

“The norms of collecting have changed significantly in recent decades,” the museum told the paper, “and The Met’s policies and procedures in this regard have been under constant review over the past 20 years.”