Five arrested in Italian art smuggling
{{date|October  8, 2005}}

Numerous smuggled artifacts were found at an [[w:Austria|Austrian]] tour guide's home. Five [[w:Italy|Italians]] were arrested and twenty-eight others are now being investigated. The Austrian, known as "Mozart" in the art trafficking world, received a citation for his involvement.

Police claim that some 600 artifacts, which had been illegally excavated, were found. Most ranged from [[w:8th century BC|8th century BCE]] to the [[w:5th century AD|5th century CE]]. Many of the items were gold and silver, along with ceramics. One item, a cup, has been valued at several thousand [[w:Euro|Euros]].

The artifacts were plundered from an archaeological site near [[w:Rome|Rome]] by "Mozart" using his tour guide credentials. Italian authorities expect that the plundered artifacts will finally be displayed in Italian museums.

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20051008/ap_on_re_eu/italy_art_trafficking_1
|title=Italian police arrest 5 in art crackdown
|author=Marta Falconi
|pub=Associated Press
|date=October 7, 2005}}
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*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4321182.stm
|title=Italy "breaks art smuggling ring"
|author=
|pub=BBC News
|date=October 7, 2005}}
<!-- Hint: If you are citing BBC News, leave the author blank and put "BBC News" in the "pub" parameter. -->

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{{archive}}
[[Category:Archaeology]]
[[Category:Italy]]
[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:Crime and law]]
[[Category:Museums]]
Numerous smuggled artifacts were found at an Austrian tour guide's home. Five Italians were arrested and twenty-eight others are now being investigated. The Austrian, known as "Mozart" in the art trafficking world, received a citation for his involvement.

Police claim that some 600 artifacts, which had been illegally excavated, were found. Most ranged from 8th century BCE to the 5th century CE. Many of the items were gold and silver, along with ceramics. One item, a cup, has been valued at several thousand Euros.

The artifacts were plundered from an archaeological site near Rome by "Mozart" using his tour guide credentials. Italian authorities expect that the plundered artifacts will finally be displayed in Italian museums.

*
Archaeology Italy Europe Crime and law Museums