The Spanish National Police have dismantled a sophisticated international network involved in the illicit trade of archaeological artifacts. The operation, conducted across the provinces of Córdoba, Jaén, and Seville, resulted in the arrest of seven individuals facing charges for criminal group membership, historical heritage violations, money laundering, and smuggling.
The investigation began in March 2023 after authorities identified a company specializing in online numismatic sales. This company was found to be offering a significant number of coins with clear archaeological provenance. Traces of soil on these coins strongly suggested their recent extraction from archaeological sites, a practice that contravenes Spain's Law 16/1985 on Spanish Historical Heritage and is punishable under Article 323 of the Spanish Penal Code.
The network's illicit activities were global in scope, with sales recorded in the United States, Canada, and various European countries. Over a five-year period, the enterprise generated an estimated revenue exceeding half a million euros. A critical aspect of the investigation revealed that the company operated without the required export permits for these artifacts, a violation constituting smuggling under Spanish law. Spanish legislation mandates official authorization for the export of any cultural artifact over a century old.
This operation highlights the persistent global challenge of combating the illicit trade in cultural goods, which deprives historical sites of their contextual and scientific value and can fund criminal enterprises. The European Union is actively addressing this issue through initiatives like the EU Action Plan against trafficking in cultural goods. The seized artifacts, including coins, Roman-era sling bullets, oil lamps, and arrowheads, have been transferred to the Archaeological Museum of Seville for detailed examination. This bust is part of broader international efforts, such as Operation Pandora, which aims to safeguard cultural patrimony.