Authorities in Bulgaria have seized ancient artifacts valued at more than 100 million euros ($115M) in one of the country’s most significant cultural heritage operations in years. Officials say the seizure exposes a large and long-running network involved in trafficking antiquities across several countries.
Deputy City Prosecutor Angel Kanev announced that 35 suspects have been detained. Investigators say the group includes treasure hunters, dealers, and traffickers who hold influential roles in local communities. Officials describe the arrests as a major step in cracking down on the illegal trade of cultural property in the region.
Gold traced to multiple regions recovered
Authorities have recovered gold coins and investment-grade gold connected to Europe, China, and Egypt. Kanev said the items are exceptionally valuable. He confirmed that images will not be released to protect the integrity of the investigation.
Officials say the arrested group includes business owners and others who have not contributed to social security for more than a decade. Investigators say this raises concerns about the origins of their income and assets. Tax audits for all detainees are underway.
The operation remains active in Sofia, Stara Zagora, Vidin, Razgrad, Shumen, Dupnitsa, Dolni Dabnik, and Novi Pazar. Authorities are continuing searches and financial checks as they assess the full scope of the network.
Network believed to span 16 years and multiple countries
Investigators believe the trafficking operation has been active for more than 16 years. Authorities say the group operated across the United States and the Balkan region and relied on numerous subcontractors abroad. Officials describe the network as highly organized and difficult to detect.
Arrests include archaeologists and professors
The case has also led to arrests in Greece. Greek authorities detained several suspects, including archaeologists and university professors. Officials say they were found with artifacts from illegal excavations. Investigators say the cross-border detentions show the reach of the network.
Officials say several suspects allegedly laundered money with the help of Chinese networks. Registered transactions tied to the group exceed USD 1 billion. Significant amounts of cash have also been seized.
Kanev said cases of this scale often take more than a decade to resolve. He emphasized that the priority is to protect cultural heritage and return seized items to their countries of origin.
Coordinated action across Europe
The Bulgarian operation was coordinated by Eurojust and Europol and supervised by the Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office. It involved the Directorate General for the Prevention of Corruption, the National Investigation Service, and the National Security Service.
Similar actions were carried out in Germany, Italy, Greece, France, the United Kingdom, and Albania. Authorities targeted organized crime groups tied to cultural property trafficking and illicit financial activity.
Investigators say the case highlights Europe’s growing concern about illegal antiquities networks and the financial structures that support them.
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