Law enforcement agencies have carried out a major international operation against art trafficking, resulting in the arrest of 60 individuals and the recovery of over 11,000 stolen artefacts. Codenamed Pandora VII, the operation was conducted across 15 member countries of INTERPOL and led by Spain’s Guardia Civil, with the support of Europol and INTERPOL.
The operational phase of the crackdown took place between September 13 and 24, 2022, and involved thousands of checks at airports, ports, border crossings, auction houses, museums, and private residences. In addition, two cyber patrol weeks were held in May and October 2022, during which over 8,495 online checks were conducted, resulting in the seizure of 4,017 stolen goods.
Pandora VII has also led to ongoing investigations in 130 cases, with additional seizures and arrests expected as investigators pursue those responsible for spoiling and destroying cultural heritage.
The recovered artefacts include 77 ancient books seized from an online marketplace by the Italian Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, as well as a Roman marble bust of a woman representing Salonia Matidia, the niece of the emperor Traian, recovered by the Civil Guard in Sevilla, Spain.
Polish law enforcement also seized 3,073 ancient coins from an online sales platform, while Romanian authorities recovered an additional 117 Dacian and Roman coins after an archaeological site was looted. Portuguese authorities recovered 48 religious sculptures and other artefacts believed to be linked to a series of 15 church robberies between 1992 and 2003. Meanwhile, the Hellenic Police confiscated 41 religious and liturgical objects, including icons and altarpieces, after a house search in Greece. Additionally, 13 archaeological artefacts, including jewellery, were seized at a post office in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The operation was carried out in cooperation with multiple countries, including Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and Sweden. INTERPOL’s I-24/7 secure communication system connected participating countries to facilitate the exchange of information and to support the entire operation with a dedicated expert. Europol played a critical role in implementing the operation, providing analytical and operational support, and facilitating information exchange among participating countries.
Operation Pandora is an annual law enforcement operation launched in 2016 and carried out under the framework of the European Multidisciplinary Platform against Criminal Threats (EMPACT). The success of Pandora VII is a testament to the importance of international cooperation in combating art trafficking and protecting cultural heritage.
