[CPProt.net] FW: Greek police seize ancient 'treasure trove'

[MSN and CPProt list (Ton Cremers)]

Greek police seize ancient 'treasure trove'

associated press, THE JERUSALEM POST  Feb. 12, 2005 

Police seized thousands of illegally excavated ancient artifacts and coins
during a raid in northern Greece, and arrested a man on suspicion of
smuggling, authorities said Saturday. 

Authorities confiscated 3,000 silver and copper coins, and 1,000 artifacts -
including jewelry and a statuette depicting the ancient Greek mythological
hero Hercules - dating from Paleolithic times to the medieval Byzantine era.


"This is an ancient treasure trove," said the head of Thessaloniki police's
antiquities theft department, Stefanos Symeonidis.
The suspect, a 40-year-old hairdresser, was arrested after police raided his
home and a warehouse Friday in Nea Polonia, about 35 kilometers (20 miles)
east of Thessaloniki. 

Police did not release his name, and the man reportedly told authorities he
was a private collector. 

Under Greece's strict protection laws, it is illegal to own, buy, sell or
excavate antiquities without a special permit. Any items found accidentally
must be handed over to authorities.

http://www.jpost.com/