**Lebanon Returns 37 Artefacts Smuggled Out of Egypt Six Years Ago**
*Beirut, Lebanon – September 16, 2026* – In a significant cultural repatriation, Lebanon has returned 37 artefacts to Egypt that were illegally smuggled out of the country six years ago. The handover ceremony took place at the National Museum of Beirut, highlighting the ongoing efforts to combat the illicit trafficking of cultural heritage.
The artefacts, which date back to the pharaonic era, were seized from the Port of Beirut in 2020. The Lebanese government, in collaboration with INTERPOL and Egyptian authorities, undertook an extensive investigation to determine the ownership and authenticity of the items. Lebanon's Culture Minister Ghassan Salame confirmed that the artefacts rightfully belonged to Egypt.
“After investigating the identity and ownership of these items, it was determined that they belonged to Egypt,” Minister Salame stated during the ceremony. He emphasized Lebanon's commitment to the strict implementation of the 1970 international convention aimed at preventing the illicit trafficking of cultural property.
The collection returned to Egypt includes a variety of historical items such as masks, wooden dolls, pieces of Coptic textiles, glass paste amulets, medium-sized statues, and two intricately decorated wooden coffins. Laura Salloum, an official with Lebanon’s Directorate General of Antiquities, noted that these artefacts had been acquired by a Lebanese national without any official documentation verifying their origins.
The return of these artefacts underscores a growing international awareness and collaboration in the fight against the illegal antiquities trade. This incident follows a broader trend in which several countries have taken steps to recover stolen cultural heritage. Just last month, the FBI Art Crime Team returned 48 artefacts to Egypt, further demonstrating the global effort to restore stolen cultural property to its rightful owners.
In a related development, Egypt's official press office announced that its embassy in Bern, Switzerland, had successfully recovered an ancient golden mummy mask with the assistance of local authorities. This highlights the ongoing challenges faced by nations in preserving their cultural heritage in the face of illegal trafficking.
The return of the artefacts from Lebanon is seen as a positive step in reinforcing the importance of cultural heritage and the need for international cooperation in protecting it. As countries continue to work together to combat the illegal antiquities trade, the hope is that more artefacts will be returned to their countries of origin, allowing for the preservation of history and cultural identity.