522 archeological artifacts of the pre-hispanic era that had been stolen from Mexico and recovered by U.S. Customs as they were being smuggled out of the country were returned in a ceremony in late September at the Mexican Consulate in El Paso, Texas. The artifacts, seized over the last three years, include a number of textiles and ceramics from 800 to 2,000 years old.
Before the antiquities were returned, officials from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia, INAH) and other anthropologists spent hours determining that the items were authentic.
In related news, a shipment of 10 artifacts were seized by local police and Customs agents in October and a Juarense, Jesus Briones Chavez, was arrested at the airport when he attempted to pick up the shipment. The archeological artifacts had been sent by airplane from Mexico City to the Juarez airport and police suspected the artifacts may have been on their way for sale in the United States.
6 of the 10 artifacts were found to be authentic pre-columbian antiquities from Oaxaca and the central altiplano upon inspection by the INAH. The pieces included Teotihuacan style figurines, a Oaxacan urn and a kettle with a human figure on it.
Briones claims he was unaware what the shipment contained and was simply picking up the boxes for a friend. He has been charged with breaking a federal law which protects archeological monuments and zones as well as historic and artistic pieces.
Sources: Diario de Juarez, El Norte, El Paso Times