£76,000 of Stolen Bulgarian Antiquities Seized in Dover Lorry Sting
Hidden amid a haul of trousers at the Port of Dover, police uncovered a treasure trove of stolen Bulgarian artefacts worth £76,110. The loot included coins, pendants, brooches, statues, and spearheads. The driver, working for a Bulgarian organised crime gang, was jailed for two years in March 2021 after admitting to transferring criminal property.
Joint Police Operation Brings Priceless Artefacts Home
The bust was led by kent-police/" title="Kent Police" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked" data-wpil-monitor-id="8446">Kent Police, with help from the Metropolitan Police’s specialist Art and Antiquities Unit and Bulgarian authorities. Detective Inspector Shaun Creed of Kent Police’s Border Policing team attended a ceremony at the Bulgarian Embassy in London, where the precious items were officially returned to their rightful owners.
“The illegal excavation of antiques is an ongoing issue in Bulgaria, robbing citizens of their cultural heritage,” said DI Creed. “Smugglers fund other crimes by trafficking these stolen treasures into countries like the UK.”
“It was an honour for Kent Police to help send a message to criminals planning to smuggle such items into Britain.”
UK Cops Stand Firm Against Rogue Artefact Smugglers
Detective Superintendent John Roch, Head of Economic Crime at the Metropolitan Police, added: “Intercepting these artefacts cuts profits for organised crime and stops them falling into the hands of innocent buyers.” The Art and Antiques Unit vows to keep teaming up with UK and international agencies to protect priceless cultural treasures from thieves and smugglers.
Bulgarian Ambassador Praises UK-Bulgarian Law Enforcement Cooperation
Ambassador Marin Raykov said: “Our cultural heritage is vital to Bulgaria’s national identity and world history. Illegal looting causes colossal damage by robbing future generations of this legacy.”
“This handover shows the success of UK-Bulgarian cooperation built on trust and professionalism. We highly praise Kent Police, the Metropolitan Police, and UK Border Force, and look forward to even stronger ties.”
