ICE Seizes Smuggled Indian Antiquities Worth $20 Million from N.Y.C. Storage Facilities
Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents seized several sandstone and bronze statues that were smuggled from India at storage units located in a facility in Manhattan. The storage units allegedly belong to Subhash Kapoor, the owner of Art of the Past Gallery. Along with the search warrant, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office issued an arrest warrant for Kapoor for allegedly possessing stolen property, ICE said.
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Indian Statues & Sculptures Valued at Over $20 Million
HSI special agents seized three Chola period bronzes, which are suspected of having been stolen directly from temples in the Tamil Nadu region of India, as well as another sculpture from the Indian Chola period, a statue from the Indian Gupta period, and a sculpture from the Kandrahran Kushan period. The total value of the seizure is estimated at more than $20 million.
Some of the stolen artifacts seized during the investigation have been displayed in major international museums worldwide, ICE said. Other pieces that match those listed as stolen are still openly on display in some museums.
Seizure Result of Cooperation w/ Indian Authorities
ICE said the seizure is a direct result of international cooperation. In February 2007, the Indian Consulate contacted HSI requesting assistance in the investigation of the potential smuggling of Indian antiquities into New York. The Indian Consulate advised HSI that an import and export company was expecting the arrival of a shipment containing seven crates manifested as "Marble Garden Table Sets." The consulate believed these crates contained stolen Indian antiquities, ICE said. This merchandise was allegedly imported by Kapoor. ICE said Kapoor allegedly created false provenances to disguise the histories of his illicit antiquities.
Kapoor, who was the subject of an Interpol Red Notice, was arrested in late 2011 at Frankfurt International Airport in Germany. On July 14, Kapoor was extradited to India, where he faced criminal charges.