Egypt’s Minister of Antiquities Khaled El-Enani revealed that he is investigating a major theft at the Egyptian Museum.
“I am investigating a major antiquities issue. I will not be able to talk about it, but I have to tell you that this piece was stolen and smuggled from inside the Egyptian Museum,” El-Enani said during a meeting of parliament’s Committee of Information, Culture and Antiquities.
According to the Egyptian minister a number of artifacts were seized in the UAE Emirate of Sharjah, some were returned to Egypt.
The minister added that 21,600 coins and 151 small statues were seized in a major smuggling case to Italy noting that the public prosecution, in coordination with a number of Egyptian authorities, returned the artifacts within a month, while investigations are underway to find the perpetrators.
Committee member, MP Osama Sharshar said the items were smuggled in diplomatic bags.
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