A sweeping international operation targeting the trafficking of cultural goods has led to 80 arrests and the recovery of nearly 38,000 stolen artifacts, including ancient coins, artworks and archaeological treasures, Europol said in a statement Thursday.
The yearlong crackdown, codenamed Operation Pandora IX, was led by Spain’s Guardia Civil with support from Europol, INTERPOL and the World Customs Organization. Authorities in 23 countries participated in the effort, which focused on criminals exploiting cultural heritage for profit.
Among the seizures were 37,727 cultural items, as well as 69 metal detectors and 23 tools typically used for illegal excavations—highlighting the ongoing threat looters pose to archaeological sites.
Investigators launched 258 cases during the operation, and many probes remain active, according to Europol, which said further arrests and seizures are expected.
One of the most notable recoveries came in Italy, where the Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, working with Italian Customs, seized a painting attributed to Jannis Kounellis, a famous Italian artist. The artwork was later found to be fake, but if genuine, it could have fetched up to 100,000 euros ($112,810). In a separate case, more than 300 items—including Roman and Punic-era coins, arrowheads and ceramic fragments—were discovered in a private apartment and had been listed for sale online.
In Spain, authorities dismantled a criminal network involved in archaeological looting in Cáceres province. Six people were arrested and three others are under investigation after police recovered 2,500 Roman coins looted from protected sites in the ancient Celtiberian city of Tamusia. The coins were being sold on social media.
Elsewhere in Spain, Guardia Civil officers stopped a passenger flying from Palma de Mallorca to Germany and found 55 ancient coins and a ring in his possession. A broader investigation led to charges for crimes against cultural heritage and the looting of underwater wrecks. Authorities ultimately recovered 64 historical objects and more than 1,500 coins.
In Greece, undercover police arrested three people attempting to sell five stolen Byzantine icons for 70,000 euros ($78,960). Intelligence-led tactics and specialized investigative techniques were used to recover the religious artifacts.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian customs officers intercepted 87 cultural items being smuggled out of the country into Poland, Moldova and Romania.
Beyond physical seizures, law enforcement teams also conducted “cyber patrols” to monitor online sales platforms. These efforts resulted in 4,298 cultural goods being seized and led to the opening of new investigations, underscoring how digital marketplaces are increasingly exploited by traffickers.
The operation was carried out under the EU’s Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT), with Europol, INTERPOL and the World Customs Organization providing analytical, operational and intelligence-sharing support.
Launched in 2016, Operation Pandora has become a flagship global initiative to combat the illicit trade in cultural heritage and protect humanity’s shared history, according to Europol.
