Egyptian authorities arrested two individuals in Minya Governorate on Thursday, 22 October, after seizing 521 ancient artefacts dating back to the Pharaonic, Greek, and Roman periods, according to a statement by the Ministry of Interior.
The suspects, both residents of Samalut district in Minya, were allegedly storing the artefacts at their residence with the intention of selling them illegally.
The arrests followed investigations by the Ministry’s Tourism and Antiquities Police Sector, in coordination with the Public Security Sector and the Minya Security Directorate.
After obtaining the necessary legal authorisations, security forces raided the property and recovered 521 artefacts.
According to the ministry, the suspects admitted to obtaining the items through illegal excavations in a mountainous area in Samalut under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
An examination by the relevant authorities confirmed that all the seized items were genuine antiquities dating to the Pharaonic, Greek, and Roman periods.
The ministry said legal proceedings had been initiated against the two suspects.
Under Egypt’s Antiquities Protection Law No. 117 of 1983, trading in antiquities and conducting excavations without a licence are prohibited. Illegal excavation can carry prison sentences of three to seven years and fines ranging from EGP 500,000 (USD 9000) to EGP 1 million (USD 18,000), while antiquities smuggling carries more severe penalties.
