Egypt smuggler caught in Brussels, 80 artefacts to return home

Ahram Online (Nevine El-Aref)

The Belgian court of appeal on Sunday ordered the return to Egypt of 80 artefacts stolen and smuggled out of the country.

The artefacts were discovered in April 2010 when customs officials at Brussels airport caught an Egyptian woman trying to smuggle the small objects inside two large wooden replica statues. Belgium police confiscated the artefacts and called the national museum to judge their authenticity. The case was sent to court after the museum found they were genuine.