Jan 16 2007
ITALIAN POLICE TRACK STOLEN ARTIFACTS
Prosecutors in Italy have new evidence they claim will prove a connection between a recent antique theft in Italy and a Japanese antique dealer.
Theft of antiquities in Italy was rampant from 1970 to the early 1990s. An investigation by Italian officials recently discovered photographs, receipts and other records that police allege point to Gianfranco Becchina, an Italian art dealer, as the head of a smuggling syndicate, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported, with links to the Mafia.
The Japanese dealer who allegedly purchased the illegally excavated goods told the Yomiuri Shimbun he had no idea any of the items were stolen. The dealer spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Illegally excavated and other stolen artifacts are believed to have flowed from Italy all over the world via auction, trade and purchase. The alleged deal between Becchina and the Japanese art dealer took place in 1991, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported.
UPI 06:14 AM, January 16th 2007, by News Staff, http://www.playfuls.com/news_10_9266-Italian-Police-Track-Stolen-Artifacts.html
