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Prosecutors, Detector Dogs, and Laws: 6 Law Enforcement Recommendations to Combat Transnational Cultural Heritage Trafficking

ByRick St. Hilaire

Transnational cultural heritage trafficking thrives on an opaque art and antiquities market. Attractive features of this marketplace include discretion surrounding business transactions, easy creation of shell corporations, the high probability…

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Senate Committee Rejects Cultural Property Czar; Supports Restrictions on Syrian Antiquities

ByRick St. Hilaire

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee met last week to consider the Protect and Preserve International Cultural Property Act (H.R. 1493). It favorably reported the measure for full consideration by the senate, but…

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Making a Difference: SAFE Founder Cindy Ho Awarded AIA’s Outstanding Public Service Award

ByRick St. Hilaire

Indifference is a word unknown to Cindy Ho. A graphic designer and independent professional, Ms. Ho created Saving Antiquities for Everyone (SAFE) in 2003 in an effort to stop the destruction…

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“Antiques” from Syria: U.S. Cultural Property Import Stats Raise Suspicion

ByRick St. Hilaire

Imports of Syrian goods into the United States have fallen dramatically since war broke out in the Mideast nation in 2011 and since the White House expanded the Syria Sanctions Program. Yet,…

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Museum Raids Cases: Rare Antiquities. Rare Convictions for Gallery Owners. Rare Prison Sentence.

ByRick St. Hilaire

In the annals of cultural property law, prosecutions targeting transnational antiquities trafficking networks are rare. Even more rare are felony convictions. Scarcer still are prison sentences. So what happened this…

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Federal Agents Easter and DiGiovanni Lauded in Heritage Trafficking Documentary

ByRick St. Hilaire

Click here to watch “The Real-Life Indiana Jones” A new documentary lauds the hard work undertaken by Homeland Security’s Senior Special Agent Brent Easter and retired Port of Newark Customs…