Image copyright Europol Image caption This Byzantine image of Saint George was among the artworks recovered

A Europe-wide police operation has recovered more than 3,500 stolen artworks and cultural artefacts.

The recovered items included a marble tombstone from the Ottoman empire and a Byzantine image of Saint George.

Multinational police agencies Europol and Interpol coordinated "Operation Pandora", led by Cypriot and Spanish police.

Police arrested 75 people, and investigated 48,588 individuals, Europol said.

Among the recovered items were:

A total of 3,561 works of art and cultural items - about half of which were archaeological objects

19 items which had been stolen from an archaeological museum in Murcia, Spain - part of a haul of 500 found in the region

More than 400 coins from throughout history, found through "suspicious online advertisements"

Image copyright Europol Image caption Hundreds of coins were included in the haul

In addition to the 75 people who were arrested, Europol said that 92 new investigations had been opened as a result of the operation.

Investigators said that criminal gangs involved in cultural theft were the focus, particularly those who seized cultural items by force - either on land or from sunken wrecks.

The operation took place during October and November last year.

Image copyright Europol Image caption Spanish officers discovered about 500 artefacts in the city of Murcia

Eighteen countries, mostly from the European Union - but also Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Switzerland - were involved.

Cypriot police said they alone recovered almost 1,400 artefacts during 44 searches.

Europol co-ordinated efforts, while Interpol contributed its database of stolen artworks.

Both the World Customs Organisation and Unesco also contributed their expertise.</s>Police say 75 people have been arrested and more than 3,500 stolen artifacts and pieces of art seized in a vast joint operation involving 18 European countries that dismantled an international cultural goods trafficking ring.

Several of the seized objects "are of great cultural importance in the archaeological world, such as a marble Ottoman tombstone and a post-Byzantine icon depicting Saint George," Europol said in a news release Monday.

Authorities said they had secured up to 500 archaeological objects alone in the southern Spanish town of Murcia, including 19 that were taken from the local archaeological museum in 2014.

More than 400 coins from different periods were also seized.

The multi-national investigation — named Operation Pandora — started in October and the arrests began in November. It was led by investigators from Spain and Cyprus with support from 16 other countries, UNESCO and Interpol.

It focused on "cultural spoliation" — the act of taking goods by force or looting, particularly in times of war.

Almost 30,000 vehicles and 50 ships were checked by investigated and 48 588 people were checked, Europol said.

It was not clear why the operation's results were announced two months after the arrests.</s>The European Union’s law enforcement group worked with police in 18 countries, including Bosnia and Switzerland, as well as Interpol, UNESCO and the World Customs Organization to find and seize cultural objects last October and November. Authorities searched almost 50,000 people for a variety of items, including over 400 coins, a marble Ottoman tombstone and a Byzantine depiction of St. George, according to BBC. And during those two months, authorities were able to recover 3,561 stolen or trafficked artifacts and pieces of art — 19 of which were stolen from an archaeological museum in Spain, BBC reports.

The operation culminated in a “joint action week” from Nov. 17 to 23 of last year, Europol said. Overall, the authorities arrested 75 people and opened 92 new investigations as part of the operation’s coordinated effort take out the criminal networks that sustain the black market for cultural objects.

The efforts also focused on relevant spoliation — obtaining cultural spoils by force — especially in countries in conflict or war.

Read More: Six Other Stolen Works of Art That Made a Comeback</s>A Europe-wide police operation has recovered more than 3,500 stolen artworks and cultural artefacts.

The recovered items included a marble tombstone from the Ottoman empire and a Byzantine image of Saint George.

Multinational police agencies Europol and Interpol coordinated "Operation Pandora", led by Cypriot and Spanish police.

Among the recovered items were:
• A total of 3,561 works of art and cultural items - about half of which were archaeological objects
• 19 items which had been stolen from an archaeological museum in Murcia, Spain - part of a haul of 500 found in the region
• More than 400 coins from throughout history, found through "suspicious online advertisements"

In addition to the 75 people who were arrested, Europol said that 92 new investigations had been opened as a result of the operation.

Investigators said that criminal gangs involved in cultural theft were the focus, particularly those who seized cultural items by force - either on land or from sunken wrecks.

The operation took place during October and November last year.

Eighteen countries, mostly from the European Union - but also Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Switzerland - were involved.

Cypriot police said they alone recovered almost 1,400 artefacts during 44 searches.

Europol co-ordinated efforts, while Interpol contributed its database of stolen artworks.

Both the World Customs Organisation and Unesco also contributed their expertise.</s>Seventy-five people have been arrested across Europe for allegedly trafficking stolen art and archaeological relics, according to Spanish police who led the investigation.

Interpol and the U.N.'s culture agency, UNESCO, helped in the investigation, as did the European policing agency Europol and the World Customs Organization, according to a statement by UNESCO.

The statement noted the arrests took place back in November, but were not made public until late last week. Neither Spanish authorities nor the international bodies involved in the investigation said why they had not previously disclosed the arrests.

"Spanish police say the suspects are members of criminal gang that trafficked stolen art and archaeological relics. They have been under investigation for months, by law enforcement from 18 countries, led by Spain and Cyprus. "Altogether, police say they have recovered about 3,500 pieces of stolen art — including Byzantine relics and an Ottoman tombstone in Greece. Among those found in Spain were 19 artifacts stolen from an archaeology museum three years ago. Police have not issued a complete inventory, but said most of the artifacts were taken from countries at war."



UNESCO said authorities in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bosnia- Herzegovina, Cyprus, Croatia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland and the U.K. all participated in the investigation.

The operation was known as "Pandora."

Spanish authorities recovered some of the coins pictured above by tracing online sales, but "would not confirm where the arrests were made," The New York Times reported.

"In the southern Spanish city of Murcia, the police recovered about 500 archaeological pieces, including 19 stolen from the city's archaeological museum in 2014," the Times wrote.

UNESCO said 92 new investigations had also been opened, following searches conducted as part of the Pandora operation.</s>THE HAGUE, THE NETHERLANDS—NBC News reports that an international operation led by Cypriot and Spanish police has resulted in the recovery of more than 3,500 stolen cultural objects—almost half of which were archaeological artifacts—and the arrest of 75 people suspected of activity in criminal networks. Dubbed “Operation Pandora,” the coordinated effort focused on “cultural spoliation,” or the act of taking goods by force, and the illicit trafficking of cultural goods, particularly from countries at war. The police and other authorities from a total of 18 countries, in cooperation with UNESCO, Interpol, and Europol, initiated more than 90 investigations, and conducted thousands of inspections and searches of people, vehicles, and ships during October and November of 2016. More than 400 coins, an Ottoman tombstone, and a post-Byzantine icon depicting Saint George are among the recovered items. For more, go to “Sunken Byzantine Basilica.”</s>Spanish police say 75 people have been arrested and more than 3,500 stolen artifacts and pieces of art seized in a joint operation with 17 other European countries that dismantled an international cultural goods trafficking ring.

Authorities said Sunday they had secured up to 500 archaeological objects alone in the southern Spanish town of Murcia, including 19 that were taken from the local archaeological museum in 2014.

The multi-national investigation started in October and the arrests were made the next month. It was led by investigators from Spain and Cyprus with support from 16 other countries, UNESCO and Interpol.

Authorities allege the ring mostly dealt with objects looted from countries affected by wars.

Spanish police did not say why they were announcing the operation two months after the arrests.</s>Spanish police say 75 people have been arrested and more than 3,500 stolen artifacts and pieces of art seized in a joint operation with 17 other European countries that dismantled an international cultural goods trafficking ring. Authorities said Sunday they had secured up to 500 archaeological objects alone in the southern Spanish town of Murcia, including 19 that were taken from the local archaeological museum in 2014.

Start the conversation, or Read more at The Progress.</s>Police from 18 countries have recovered more than 3,500 stolen works of art and ancient artefacts of “great cultural importance” in an operation last year, according to the European police agency.



The haul included a marble Ottoman tombstone, a post-Byzantine icon depicting Saint George and hundreds of coins, Europol said.

Operation Pandora took place in October and November and led to the recovery of 3,561 items and 75 arrests.

Officials said they were unable to put a total value on the haul as experts had yet to appraise it.

“Several of the retrieved artefacts are of great cultural importance in the archaeological world,” the Hague-based agency said.

Approximately 500 objects were uncovered in Murcia, south-eastern Spain, including 19 coins that had been stolen from the Archaeological Museum in 2014.

The operation was led by Spanish and Cypriot police who carried out checks on more than 48,500 people, about 50 ships and more than 29,000 vehicles.

Police scoured internet sites, art galleries and checkpoints in their hunt. They also searched scuba-diving schools for items plundered from underwater sites.

In Cyprus, 40 ancient objects were found at the post office in Larnaca, near the island’s main airport.

All airports, post offices and checkpoints to and from northern Turkish-held areas were monitored, and there were “intensified police patrols at sensitive archaeological sites”, Cypriot police said.

“From a total of 44 searches conducted in homes and premises throughout Cyprus, 1,383 artefacts and 13 metal detectors were found and seized.”</s>Interpol have announced a 15th anniversary tour in celebration of their 2002 debut album, Turn on the Bright Lights. On Monday, the rock band revealed European tour dates for the retrospective jaunt, which includes stops at summer festivals such as Romania’s Summer Well festival and Switzerland’s Openair festival.

In addition to the news of Interpol’s Turn on the Bright Lights anniversary outing, the New York-based indie outfit disclosed their progress in assembling a brand new album, tentatively slated to be released in 2018. It will be Interpol’s sixth studio album and the first since their critically heralded 2014 return-to-form LP, El Pintor.

The upcoming anniversary docket from Interpol — guitarist Daniel Kessler, singer-guitarist Paul Banks, and drummer Sam Fogarino — currently contains dates in Europe only. However, further tour dates are reportedly forthcoming. The TOTBL tour kicks off at Lucerna Music Bar in Prague, Czech Republic, on August 9, 2017.

As reported by Paste magazine, the Interpol Turn on the Bright Lights 15th anniversary tour comprises concert dates from Austria to the Netherlands, wrapping up the currently publicized European leg with shows in the United Kingdom, France, and Spain. Interpol will be performing the Turn on the Bright Lights album in its entirety during the anniversary shows. TOTBL contained early Interpol hits like “PDA,” “Obstacle 1,” and “NYC.”

Interpol also made known the upcoming anniversary tour dates via their official website and social media outlets, posting a Turn on the Bright Lights tour announcement video on Instagram. Check out Interpol’s post below, which announces the anniversary tour dates with an animated version of the Interpol TOTBL album cover.

Pitchfork also covered the Interpol anniversary action, listing the announced tour dates for Interpol’s Turn on the Bright Lights outing. The online music magazine previously produced a video retrospective on Interpol’s TOTBL album, featuring interviews with Banks, Kessler, and Fogarino, which can be viewed online at their website.

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It has not been reported if former Interpol bassist Carlos Dengler (previously known as Carlos D.) will be rejoining the band for the anniversary tour. Dengler played bass and wrote orchestrations for Interpol from Turn on the Bright Lights through to their 2010 self-titled album, Interpol. He left the group after the completion of Interpol. Subsequent bass duties in the band were then handled by David Pajo and ultimately Brad Truax.

In an interview with Interpol drummer Sam Fogarino promoting the 10th anniversary re-release of Turn on the Bright Lights in 2012, the Athens, Georgia-based percussionist recalled his time performing with the erstwhile Interpol bassist. Fogarino told SPIN that he sometimes misses the contributions of the bygone Interpol instrumentalist.

Below, watch the music video for Interpol’s “Everything Is Wrong,” the latest single from the band taken from their fifth studio album, El Pintor. Interpol have released five full-length albums since their formation in New York City in 1997: Turn on the Bright Lights (2002), Antics (2004), Our Love to Admire (2007), Interpol (2010), and El Pintor (2014).

Are you a fan of Interpol? Did you rock out to Turn on the Bright Lights back in the early 2000s? What’s your favorite Interpol song? Do you miss Carlos D. being in Interpol? Let us know your thoughts on Interpol and their upcoming 15th anniversary TOTBL tour in the comments section below.
Following a joint police operation by Europol and Interpol last October and November across much of Europe, dubbed "Operation Pandora", more than 3,500 stolen artwork and artifacts are recovered, with 75 people arrested and 48,588 more being investigated.