Manhattan's fight against illegal antiquities trafficking has scored a recent victory as District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., announced the repatriation of valuable artifacts to their rightful homes in Spain and Cyprus. Twelve historical objects will return to Cyprus, alongside a prized Silver Medallion to Spain. This comes after a series of investigations into the illicit trade of antiquities, prominently one concerning London-based trafficker Robin Symes who died in 2023.
In a statement obtained by the Manhattan DA's office, Bragg expressed his gratitude to the team that played a role in recovering these "extraordinary objects". Emphasizing that New York will not serve as a refuge for such criminal activities. Symes' investigation, led by the DA's Antiquities Trafficking Unit (ATU) in coordination with Scotland Yard, has to date recovered 121 artifacts valued at upwards of $56 million.
The Spanish Consul General, Marta de Blas, praised the collaboration stating, “On behalf of the Spanish Government, we would like to thank the District Attorney´s Office and its Antiquities Trafficking Unit for their excellent cooperation with both our Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs which has led to the recovery of the Visigoth Silver Medallion, an antiquity dated from the 5th-7th century that was looted from the Extremadura region and recovered to return it to Spain. This return is the result of the strong collaboration in the fight against trafficking in cultural property that the U.S. and Spain have developed for years and that we hope will be strengthened in the years to come.” The Silver Medallion, a significant Visigothic relic from the 5th-7th century and valued at $210,000, was looted in 2006 in Spain before surfacing in New York in 2024, according to the same press release.
With regards to Cyprus, notable items include the Plank Figurine and a 3rd millennium B.C.E. Flask, both of which were seized by the ATU in 2025 after being smuggled through the same New York antiquities dealer linked to Symes. Cyprus' Consul General, Michalis Firillas conveyed his country's reliance on international partners like the U.S. to protect its cultural heritage and prevent it from financing "illicit operations that endanger human lives around the world."
Under DA Bragg's watch, the ATU has made significant strides, recovering nearly 2,300 stolen antiquities from 39 countries, with a total value exceeding $250 million. Since its inception, the unit has recovered almost 6,000 antiquities worth over $460 million, managing to return around 5,500 to 29 countries. The involved team, led by Assistant District Attorney Matthew Bogdanos with help from other DA officials and international partners, continues its commitment to end cultural property trafficking.
