£3 Million Priceless Statue Smuggled Into UK as Mere “Stone Decoration”
A stunning marble funerary statue from 630BC was smuggled into the UK in 2011 under false pretences. Crooks labelled the priceless artefact as a “stone decoration from Turkey” to dodge detection.
Looted from Ancient Cyrene, Worth Millions on Black Market
The statue was stolen from Cyrene, an ancient city in Libya and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Experts say it could’ve fetched up to £3 million if sold illegally.
Justice Served – Statue Forfeited and Repatriated to Libya
In 2015, a judge ruled the statue was unearthed unlawfully and ordered it forfeited to the Crown. The treasure stayed safe at the British Museum before being handed over to the Libyan Embassy in May 2021.
“This statue is of significant historic and cultural importance and this case shows HMRC’s vital role in fighting illicit trade in cultural property,” said Andrew J McKie, Assistant Director of HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service. “We are grateful for the British Museum’s support and pleased the statue has been returned to its rightful owners.”
HMRC’s Crack Team Battles Global Artefact Smuggling
The investigation was led by a specialist HMRC team working with the British Museum and international partners. They track and seize smuggled historical artefacts, returning them to their countries of origin.
The Statue’s Story – Persephone Rising from the Underworld
The life-size statue, intricately carved from marble, represents Persephone, the Goddess rising from the underworld. British Museum archaeologists identified hallmark Cyrene craftsmanship. Cyrene was a major Greek and later Roman trading hub, famed since the 18th century until destroyed by an earthquake in 365AD.
