Antiquities trader arrested in Baghdad with 18 artifacts

BAGHDAD — Baghdad Operations Command reported Tuesday the arrest of an antiquities trader in the Ghazaliya area, west of the capital, after security forces found 18 archaeological pieces in his possession.

According to a statement, intelligence led a unit from the 2nd Division of the Federal Police to raid the suspect’s home as part of ongoing area search operations.

The suspect and the seized items were referred to the relevant authorities to complete legal procedures.

The arrest comes amid ongoing government efforts to combat the illegal trade of Iraq’s cultural and historical artifacts. In July, a criminal court in Baghdad sentenced a man to two years in prison for attempting to sell an ancient Mesopotamian artifact.

In April, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities announced the receipt of 292 archaeological items—primarily clay tablets bearing cuneiform inscriptions—uncovered through an excavation partnership with the British Museum.

Following the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, more than 15,000 artifacts were looted from the National Museum in Baghdad, including rare and priceless Mesopotamian items. In recent years, Iraq has stepped up efforts to recover stolen heritage, including a landmark 2021 repatriation of around 17,000 looted pieces from the United States. Many of those artifacts date back more than 4,000 years and contain some of the earliest examples of Sumerian writing.