Egyptian Artifacts Discovered At World Trade Bridge
By
KGNS News
Story Created:
Jul 30, 2012 at 6:19 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Jul 30, 2012
It's the find of a lifetime at one of Laredo's ports of entry two priceless Egyptian sarcophagi it's our top story tonight at six.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agents seized the two Egyptian sarcophagi at the world trade bridge. one sarcophagus has a wooden mask with glass eyes. The other has a painting in stucco depicting an Egyptian woman. After finding the sarcophagi in a shipment, Laredo import specialist enforcement team contacted the Egyptian Ministry For State Of Antiquities and found that the artifacts were the property of Egypt.
The artifacts were seized because of a lack of export documentation, required for transporting artifacts out of Egypt. An official with customs says this is one of the most spectacular finds many of their agents have seen:
Rick Pauza, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, says:
"We do encounter different types of cultural patrimony from different countries, but to find something as rare as a sarcophagus is something really unique. You know, it's something we really haven't encountered since I've been here. It's a unique find. It's a tribute to the work of import specialists working to find the origin of these items and to be able to make the appropriate determination."
CBP Officials say they are very pleased to have rescued the two priceless Egyptian artifacts and look forward to returning them to the Egyptian government.
