'Largest ever' hoard of stolen Iraqi antiquities seized

Dubai Customs on Wednesday put on display the largest ever cache of smuggled Iraqi antiquities recovered in a single raid, state news agency WAM reported.

The 128-object hoard included stone sculptures, pottery and silver vessels, golden and silver coins, worked pieces of gold and silver and jewels dating from 3000BC up to the Islamic era, Ahmed Butti Ahmed, Director General of Dubai Customs said.

The antiquities were seized during an attempt to smuggle them into the UAE via Dubai Creek Entry, he said.

The customs inspectors became suspicious of a vessel and its crew arriving in Dubai Creek Entry.

The captain, when questioned about the vessel's load, answered that it was empty and carrying nothing.

When he insisted on swift customs clearing procedures for the vessel in question, customs officials began to smell a rat.

A three-strong team of inspectors went down into the hold where, on close inspection, they found what looked to be a false partition.

When the captain declined to remove it claiming that doing so would cause the ship to sink, the inspectors politely but firmly insisted and - lo and behold - found behind it a great number of antiquities concealed in paper boxes.

The captain and crew immediately protested their ignorance of the contraband items.

At a preliminary investigation initiated by customs investigators, one sailor claimed to be the one who had stored the boxes without the knowledge of the captain and other sailors.

Dubai Customs are holding the seized antiquities in secure custody until delivered to the competent agencies.

Commenting on the incident, Ahmed Butti said: "The incident affirms once again the vigilance and preparedness of Customs personnel being efficiently carrying out their duties."