Polish artefacts recovered in international police operation
PR dla Zagranicy
Victoria Bieniek
25.01.2017 07:12
Coins, art works, weapons and jewellery have been found in Poland as part of an international police operation which saw 3,500 relicts recovered and 75 people detained throughout Europe.
Some of the good recovered under "Pandora". Photo: policja.pl.
Summing up operation “Pandora” on Tuesday, Polish police said the artefacts had been illegally acquired, adding that they were important to Poland's cultural heritage.
Among the 75 detained was a man from Poznań, in western Poland, suspected of using a metal detector to uncover about 1,000 historical items, which were found in his home.
Danua Walczewska, head of the Heritage Monuments Protection Office in Wrocław, western Poland, said treasure hunting is legal in Poland. But she added that the search area has to be approved by an official from city hall, who also decides what the finder can keep and what needs to be handed over to the state.
Polish police are reviewing what their counterparts in other European countries seized, with particular interest in anything that may have been taken from wartime Poland.
Operation “Pandora” was conducted in 18 European countries throughout October and November last year and also involved UNESCO, EUROPOL and the World Customs Organisation.
More than 48,500 people were investigated and nearly 30,000 vehicles searched in the operation. (vb/pk)
Source: IAR, policja.pl