Rare Antiquities Seized in Aleppo and Returned to the Relevant Directorate

The Ministry of Interior, in cooperation with the relevant security authorities, managed to thwart an attempt to smuggle a large quantity of rare antiquities out of the country, where they were handed over to the Directorate of Antiquities and Museums in Aleppo for preservation and maintenance.

The Directorate confirmed that the confiscated pieces date back to different historical periods and represent "an important part of the Syrian cultural heritage", given their cultural and historical value that embodies the diversity of civilizations that Syria has witnessed over the ages.

In a statement, the Antiquities Directorate praised the "efforts of the Ministry of Interior in thwarting antiquities smuggling operations", considering that "protecting the national heritage is not the responsibility of a single entity, but a collective duty shared by state institutions and society alike", with the aim of preserving the cultural identity and passing it on to future generations.

The Directorate also called for the necessity of "enhancing societal awareness of the importance of protecting cultural heritage", and increasing cooperation with security agencies to combat smuggling networks, especially in light of repeated attempts to sell and smuggle Syrian archaeological treasures out of the country.

The relevant authorities are working on documenting and studying the recovered pieces, in preparation for their display in national museums.