MORE THAN 5,000 ARTEFACTS SMUGGLED OUT OF COUNTRY SINCE 2003

BAGHDAD, AUGUST 7 /SRNA/ – Thousands of artefacts have been illegally taken out of Iraq since the beginning of the war in spring 2003, Iraqi Deputy Minister of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities Qassem Al-Sudani said.

“Iraq has been subjected to looting in various ways since the beginning of the invasion. More than 5,000 items with inventory numbers from Iraqi museums have been illegally smuggled out of the country since spring 2003,” Sudani said, TASS reported.

He says the line ministry is monitoring the appearance of Iraqi artefacts at public and private auctions, in cooperation with the foreign and interior ministries, Interpol, intelligence services and Iraqi embassies.

According to him, these efforts have produced results, and the locations of thousands of artefacts have so far been identified.

Sudani stressed that it is much more difficult to trace ancient objects obtained through illegal excavations or private archaeological expeditions and subsequently smuggled abroad.

He said that organised criminal groups operate in this area, with their activities being monitored by the National Security Service and intelligence services in cooperation with the Antiquities Authority.