NEW YORK — Manhattan District Legal professional Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., announced Aug. 24 the return of the Durga Stele, a 14th century antiquity, to the folks of Nepal. For hundreds of years, the piece was acknowledged in a shrine within the Kathmandu Valley till it was stolen within the Sixties. It resurfaced on the New York artwork market in 2022 and was seized by the Antiquities Trafficking Unit (ATU).
The Durga Stele was returned throughout a repatriation ceremony Aug 24 attended by Nepal’s Appearing Consul Basic, Bishnu Gautam, and Homeland Safety Investigations (HSI) New York Appearing Deputy Particular Agent in Cost Mike Alfonso.
“HSI is proud to be part of this grand repatriation the place a chunk of historical past shall be returned to its house nation,” mentioned Ricky J. Patel, appearing particular agent accountable for HSI New York. “The Black Stone Stele of Durga was looted from a temple within the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal however shall be returned at this time to its rightful house so its historical past might be shared with future Nepali generations. The relentless efforts of HSI New York’s Cultural Property, Artwork and Antiquities Group and the Manhattan District Legal professional’s Workplace is significant to disrupting the unlawful trafficking of antiquities and guaranteeing these priceless artifacts discover their approach house.”
“A single piece stolen from any nation is one too many,” mentioned Bragg. “The historic, inventive, and cultural values hooked up to the Durga Stele are immeasurable, and I’m happy it’s being returned to the folks of Nepal”
Gautam mentioned, “I prolong my deep gratitude to District Legal professional Mr. Alvin L. Bragg Jr. and his excellent crew and the US Division of Homeland Safety Investigations in New York and related Officers for his or her steadfast dedication and unbelievable cooperation.”
The Durga Stele, valued on the artwork market at roughly $18,000, was utilized in Hindu ceremonial rituals and depicts the goddess Durga. The piece surfaced with quite a few Nepali statues smuggled by seller and trafficker Doris Wiener in the course of the Sixties earlier than being bought to a non-public collector. When the piece was bought to the personal collector it nonetheless had ritual pigment – sometimes a combination of sandalwood and turmeric – that may have been utilized throughout spiritual ceremonies.
The repatriation of the Durga Stele arose from the Workplace’s investigation into Nancy Weiner, the daughter of Doris Weiner, who was convicted in September 2021 for her function in trafficking and promoting tens of millions of {dollars}’ value of stolen antiquities in New York County.
The investigation was carried out by Assistant District Legal professional Bradley Barbour, Investigative Analysts Daniel Healey, Hilary Chassé, and Apsara Iyer; and Particular Agent Igor Gamza of HSI, underneath the supervision of Assistant District Legal professional Matthew Bogdanos, Chief of the ATU and Senior Trial Counsel. Investigative assist was supplied by Dr. Erin Thompson.
HSI works intently with international governments to conduct joint investigations and is dedicated to pursuing a technique to fight transnational organized crime associated to the illicit trafficking of cultural artifacts by focusing on high-priority organizations and strengthening worldwide legislation enforcement partnerships. Since 2007, HSI has repatriated greater than 15,000 objects to over 40 nations and establishments. Members of the general public who’ve details about the illicit distribution of cultural property, in addition to the unlawful trafficking of art work, are urged to name the toll-free tip line at 1-866-347-2423 or to finish the online tip form.
HSI the principal investigative arm of the Division of Homeland Safety (DHS) and is accountable for investigating transnational crime and threats, particularly these legal organizations that exploit the worldwide infrastructure by way of which worldwide commerce, journey, and finance transfer. HSI’s workforce of over 10,400 staff consists of greater than 6,800 particular brokers assigned to 225 cities all through the US, and 86 abroad places in 55 nations. HSI’s worldwide presence represents DHS’s largest investigative legislation enforcement presence overseas and one of many largest worldwide footprints in U.S. legislation enforcement.