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Antiquities Trafficking Investigation Reveals Suspected Ties to Terrorism and Money Laundering — “Seize and Send” Outcome Flags Need for Special Prosecutors

ByRick St. Hilaire

ICE returned smuggled antiquities to Afghanistanduring a photo-op held in Washington, DC in 2013.No prosecutions resulted from the case. Newly obtained documents released by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reveal…

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Steering Clear of ISIS Loot: Don’t Buy, Apply Strict Due Diligence

ByRick St. Hilaire

Ancient artifact collectors share a passion for history, culture, and aesthetics. The best collectors embrace their role as stewards of heritage by dutifully caring for cultural material through conservation, storage, display,…

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The Assyrian Head Repatriation: Filling in the Details of ICE’s Investigation

ByRick St. Hilaire

This week U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) returned a looted fragmented limestone head of Assyrian King Sargon II to Iraq. The stone carving once sat…

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Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Undersecretary Points to Antiquities Trafficking as a Source of ISIS Funding

ByRick St. Hilaire

David CohenSource: U.S. Treasury The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) earns most of its cash from oil revenues, approximately $1 million per day. But the terror group also…

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Seized Assyrian Head Named in Forfeiture Complaint – Smuggling Allegations Raised

ByRick St. Hilaire

Federal prosecutors say there is probable cause to forfeit an Assyrian head from Iraq, allegedly smuggled into the United States in 2008. The government filed a verified complaint for forfeiture…