Smuggled antique pottery handed over to Pakistan   

   

London : The British government on 9 February 2009 returned 198 pieces of antique pottery to Pakistan, said to be about 4,000 years old, which were smuggled to the UK two years ago. 

 

The priceless antique pieces were categorised as ‘ordinary pieces of pottery’ with a value of about 100 dollars when they were smuggled out of Pakistan via Dubai in 2007.

 

But they were seized by the UK’s Customs Department at Heathrow Airport.

 

Subsequently, the Pakistan High Commission in UK started negotiating with the British authorities for their return.

 

A handing over ceremony was held on Monday at the Pakistan High Commission where Director, UK Border Agency Tony Walker formally returned these invaluable antiques to High Commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hasan.

 

The artefacts were seized in 2007 by Custom officer Anil Rajput when the consignment arrived at the Heathrow and roused his suspicion on checking the papers.  

 

The Custom officer, on realising that the pottery was not ordinary, seized the consignment which were then despatched to the British Museum for examination where the experts determined that the items were about 4000 years old and originated from South West Pakistan.

 

Speaking on the occasion, the High Commissioner praised the efforts of the UK Border Agency in seizing the consignment and handing over the artefacts to the Pakistan Government.   

 

He said the consignment will be send back to Pakistan after the completion of necessary documentation including insurance.

 

Hasan said smuggling of antiques was a big international business and many countries around the world have been robbed of such artefacts which had been part of their history and culture.  

 

Tony Walker declared that the UK Border Agency was only doing its job and was delighted to look after the seized consignment safely for two years until the investigation were over.  

 

He said the consignment was seized under the UK Custom law as the country was signatory to the international convention under UN on smuggling of historical artefacts.  

 

Walker said the UK Border Agency had seized similar items in the past and returned them to respective governments of the countries from where these artefacts were smuggled out.  

 

Head of the Chancery Hamid Asghar said the returned pottery will be sent back to Pakistan where it will be displayed in various museums around the country. He said the seized consignment was kept in Custom warehouse in East London for two years while investigations were undertaken.  

 

Walker said those behind this smuggling have not been arrested as the investigation were a going process with the collaboration of Interpol and Pakistan Police.  

 

The High Commissioner later presented letters of appreciation to the officials of UK Border Agency who were responsible for seizing the consignment and its related investigation.  

 

Hasan said Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has congratulated the Pakistan High Commission for securing the return of these ancient artefacts.  

 

 

February 10, 2009