FBI probes sale of allegedly stolen British Museum artefacts
What's the story
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is examining the sale of potentially stolen artefacts from the British Museum to American buyers. This investigation was initiated following reports last year that a number of ancient jewels and gems had gone missing from the museum and were purportedly sold to a collector in Washington DC, as per a BBC report. The British Museum has stated that out of approximately 1,500 items believed to be stolen or missing, 626 have been recovered so far.
Recovery efforts
Unrecorded stolen items pose challenge for British Museum
The British Museum has located an additional 100 items from the suspected stolen or missing artefacts, but these have not yet been returned. The majority of these stolen items were not officially recorded, presenting a challenge for the museum as it attempts to prove their ownership. The FBI's investigation is primarily focused on multiple stolen items believed to have been sold to US buyers through online business channels, making transaction tracing difficult.
Joint efforts
FBI and Metropolitan Police collaborate
The FBI is working in conjunction with the Metropolitan Police in the UK to investigate this case. A notable instance involves a buyer from New Orleans, Tonio Birbiglia, who purchased an amethyst gem and an orange scarab-beetle gem on eBay. The FBI later reached out to Birbiglia regarding these two pieces. The seller of these items was identified as "sultan1966," an ID associated with Dr. Peter Higgs, a former curator at the British Museum.
Allegations surface
Former British Museum curator accused of artefact theft
The BBC report alleges that Higgs has been accused of stealing, damaging, and selling artefacts over the past decade. The museum claims that Higgs stole items worth approximately £100,000, primarily from its storerooms. These items were reportedly sold to at least 45 buyers on eBay. Despite these allegations, Higgs denies any wrongdoing and is currently defending himself in a civil lawsuit.