Attempt to smuggle statue

Egyptian police have foiled an attempt to smuggle an ancient statue of Pharaoh Ramses II out of Egypt for sale to a foreign museum or private collector.

Security sources said Thursday that thieves found the granite statue in the region of Giza near Cairo in the area of the big pyramids and did not report it to the authorities.

Police were tipped off about the discovery, however, and policemen posing as art merchants convinced the thieves to sell them the statue for 4 million Egyptian pounds ($695,000).

The thieves, who planned to break the statue into several pieces to facilitate smuggling it out of the country, showed the disguised policemen to the place where they had been hiding it.

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source : http://washingtontimes.com/upi/20050915-060313-3527r.htm
Informations about this article
  • Author(s) : Thomas
  • Publication : 21 September 2005
  • Update : 21 September 2005

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  • Sheila : It makes me angry when people take a treasure from history, and try to sell it. There intention was to break it and this to me is more disturbing. I believe these articles should be displayed for all to see, the history of their country. Not to be sold to highest bidder. I am an american citizen, and I love Egyptian history. It is my dream to see Egypt.
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