Over 60 million euros ($64 million) in stolen and unlawfully removed gold artifacts from Ukraine were reportedly found by Spanish police on Monday.
The 11 pieces, which included necklaces, bracelets, and earrings, were on exhibit at a museum in Kyiv between 2009 and 2013, according to police. They were then taken out of the country before 2016, they added.
The statement continued, mentioning artifacts dating from between the eighth and fourth centuries BC. “The seized pieces—gold jewelry of great historic and economic value—had been stolen and exported illegally from Ukraine and were going to be sold in Madrid,” it said.
As part of the operation, which was carried out with the assistance of the authorities in Ukraine as well as Albania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, and North Macedonia, three Spaniards and two Ukrainians were detained, one of whom was an Orthodox Church priest.
According to the police, the artifacts had faked English, Ukrainian, and Spanish documentation to make it appear as though they belonged to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
According to police spokeswoman Ana Ramon, “These are pieces that cannot be sold through the usual legal channels, such as auction houses.”
After one of the items—a gold belt with rams’ heads—was sold to a businessman in a private transaction in Madrid in 2021, police launched their investigation.
The remaining 10 artifacts that police had taken from the accused last month were found by detectives thanks to this.
The National Archaeological Museum and Cultural Heritage Institute of Spain are examining the artifacts.
AFP