£2m Ming Dynasty Vase Recovered After High-Stakes Sting
A major art heist took a hit as UK cops teamed up with Swiss authorities to nail three crooks and recover a priceless £2 million Ming Dynasty vase stolen from Geneva’s Museum of Far Eastern Art in 2019.
Three Men Convicted in International Art Theft Case
Mbaki Nkhwa, Kaine Wright, and David Lamming have been found guilty over the dramatic museum burglary that rocked the art world. Nkhwa and Wright were convicted for conspiring to convert criminal property, while Lamming pleaded guilty earlier this year.
Undercover Operation Snags Stolen Vase in London
An anonymous tip-off to an auction house in July 2020 sparked the hunt. Police traced the tip’s IP address to Lamming’s home. Instead of grabbing him straight away, Met officers launched a covert op, posing as buyers to score the vase for £450,000.
The sting ended in a London hotel where Nkhwa handed over the Ming-era masterpiece and was promptly arrested. Phone logs revealed tight links between the trio, with Wright organising their travel to the handover spot.
Ongoing Hunt for Missing Artefact and More Arrests
The team’s not done yet. A stolen Ming Dynasty cup is still missing, with cops offering a £10,000 reward for info. Meanwhile, two more Brits, Stewart and Louis Ahearne, face trial in Switzerland after being extradited for their alleged roles in the same 2019 theft.
Detective Chief Inspector Matt Webb said: “This shows the power of international cooperation in taking down cross-border crime and returning stolen cultural treasures.”
The stolen haul included three Ming items worth £3.5 million. One £80,000 bowl was already found and returned after popping up at auction in Hong Kong. Authorities urge anyone with tips to contact police or Crimestoppers immediately.
