US law enforcement agency, the FBI is currently investigating the selling to US-based buyers of potentially hundreds of treasures thought to be from the British Museum. The law enforcement agency has also been assisting with the return to the UK of 268 items that the museum claim were stolen from them and sold to a collector in Washington DC. The British Museum revealed in 2020 that numerous priceless items had been stolen, gone missing, or become damaged.
Reports suggest that of the 1,500 items, the museum believes have been stolen or are missing; approximately 626 of them have been recovered so far, with 100 more located but yet to return. However, the majority of the items allegedly taken were not cataloged, and research is ongoing into proving that they originated from the museum’s collection. In some cases, collectors have donated items to assist staff in assessing collections.
The British Museum has accused former senior curator Peter Higgs of selling, melting down, damaging and stealing numerous ancient artifacts together worth a total estimation of £100,000. Higgs has as of yet denied the allegations of involvement in any crimes linked to the artefacts. Court documents related to a civil case being brought about by the museum against Higgs show that he is believed to have sold largely unregistered items from the storerooms relating to the museum for more than a decade, with at least 45 buyers on eBay. However, no charges have been made against anyone so far.
The main eBay seller, sultan1966, presented himself as “Paul Higgins” or “Paul” to at least three buyers. Documentation suggesting that Higgs acknowledged ownership of the sultan1966 account has been submitted. In one instance, sultan1966 sold Antiquities gallery worker Tonio Birbiglia two items. Birbiglia, who no longer possesses the contents of the order, claims he cannot remember selling them. After an FBI agent reached out to Birbiglia, no further contact was made.
Meanwhile, a Danish antique dealer reports having chased down stolen artefacts that were sold to buyers in numerous metropolitan areas, including Hamburg, Cologne, Paris, Hong Kong, and more. This confirms that items have likely been traded across various domains
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