Mummy and coffins thwarting a smuggling operation of 437 archaeological pieces in the Egyptian Beni Suef Governorate

Egyptian security services were able to thwart the smuggling of 437 artifacts, including mummy and coffins, in Beni Suef Governorate, and arrested 3 criminal elements.

Information and investigations from the Tourism Police, Antiquities and Public Security sectors, in coordination with the Beni Suef Security Directorate, confirmed that a gang formation including 3 criminal elements carried out illegal digging and excavations for antiquities and hid some antiquities inside a plot of land in the Nasser Police Station Department in Beni Suef.

The security services explained that they were targeted and seized, as they were in possession of 437 artifacts, including about 3 wooden coffins, one of which contained a mummy, 400 stone statues, 29 amulets, 2 wooden masks belonging to the seized coffins, a wooden statue, and 2 pottery flasks.

The security services indicated that the gang formation admitted that the seized items resulted from illegal excavations and excavations for antiquities in the Al-Wasta Police Station Department, and by presenting the seized items to the competent authorities, their antiquity was confirmed, and legal measures were taken against the smugglers.