Greek Police has located and confiscated 56 old church icons and arrested a 43-year-old man and a 74-year-old woman, accused of violating the legislation on the protection of antiquities and cultural heritage in general.
Experts have confirmed that at least 20 religious icons from a haul of 52 seized by the police in Athens on Wednesday are historically significant and protected by cultural heritage laws.
Following relevant information and thorough investigation, the Department of Cultural Heritage and Antiquities of the Attica Security Directorate, proceeded with the operation at January 3, in the suburb of Moschato in south Athens, the Police said in a press release.
A police team identified a car with a 43-year-old man and after checking its interior, 55 church icons were found and confiscated.
The man claimed he had obtained the icons from the 74-year-old woman, who was located and arrested in the suburb of western Athens Nea Ionia. During a search in her home, an additional icon was found and confiscated.
The antiquities will be delivered to the Piraeus Archaeological Museum for safekeeping and final assessment regarding the historical importance of the remaining 36 icons.
The filed case file will be submitted to the Criminal Prosecutor of Athens.
