The Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) has consented to the return of a Marcus Aurelius statue to the people of Türkiye, following the work of the Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr.'s office. As revealed by the Manhattan DA's website, the repatriation is the result of an investigation by their Antiquities Trafficking Unit (ATU) into a smuggling operation out of Anatolia. The museum, as part of the agreement, will also drop its lawsuit challenging the seizure of the statue which occurred in August 2023.

Through a criminal investigation that began in 2022, it was determined that the artifact was among those pillaged from the ancient city of Bubon in south-central Türkiye. The ATU, after seizing 15 antiquities valued at nearly $80 million, has successfully returned 14 pieces, with the Marcus Aurelius statue scheduled to follow. “I am pleased the Cleveland Museum of Art agrees that this statue belongs to the people of Türkiye. This investigation included extensive witness interviews and forensic testing that proved conclusively this antiquity was looted from Bubon. I appreciate the museum’s cooperation throughout this matter, which is illustrative of how we can work together to ensure that looted antiquities are in the possession of its rightful owners. Our extensive investigation into the widespread and historic looting at Bubon has now led to 15 antiquities recovered for the people of Türkiye, and I thank our team of prosecutors, analysts, and investigators for their hard work,” District Attorney Bragg was quoted in the Manhattan DA's announcement.

Collaborative efforts by ATU members, the Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations, Turkish officials, and representatives from CMA, facilitated the investigation. Rigorous forensic examinations and scientific testing including 3D modeling, lead-isotope analysis, and soil comparison have played a critical role in verifying the statue's provenance. Such testing proved conclusively that the statue was indeed looted from Bubon, supporting the decision for its repatriation.

The looting of Bubon's treasures dates back to the 1960s, as individuals near the site began removing items to sell to smugglers. Tracing these items’ path from their illegal removal in Türkiye, to their sale and eventual display in museums, the investigation highlighted the handiwork of international traffickers and New York-based dealers alike. The cooperation of many, including CMA and survivors from the Turkish village, helps to right historical wrongs, while also recognizing the destructive path of such illicit antiquities, as mentioned on the Manhattan DA's website.

Assistant District Attorney Matthew Bogdanos, chief of the ATU, along with other prosecutors and specialists, spearheaded the criminal inquiry. They received aiding assistance from a myriad of officials and experts both in the U.S. and Türkiye, managing to undo part of the damage done to the cultural heritage of Anatolia. The announcement also extended thanks to Turkish Deputy Minister of culture Gokhan Yazgi among others, for their contribution to the effort.