Four Greeks held over 5.5-million-euro illegal artefacts sale
(SALONIKA) - Police in northern Greece have arrested four people on suspicion of antiquity smuggling after they allegedly tried to sell religious artefacts to undercover officers for 5.5 million euros (7.7 million dollars), a police source said on Friday.
The three men and woman arrested in the northern town of Serres on Thursday were allegedly trying to sell a 16th century silver cross and two hinged altar paintings.
One of the two altar paintings known as a triptych had three panels, dates from the 17th century and could have fetched at least a million euros if auctioned, the police said.
The second had seven panels, probably dates from the early 19th century and is of possible Russian origin.
Two of the suspects are doctors and one of them already has a licensed private collection of over 200 objects dating from the Byzantine era.
Police also confiscated around 100 items including Hellenistic and Byzantine coins, icons, folk art objects, jewellery and antique weapons.
Greek law prohibits the collection of antiquities without a license from the culture ministry.
The suspects face up to 25 years in prison if convicted, the source said.
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