US billionaire Michael Steinhardt has surrendered 180 stolen relics worth an estimated $70 million and agreed to an "unprecedented" lifetime ban on acquiring antiquities, officials in Manhattan have said.
Investigators found that Steinhardt, one of the world's largest ancient art collectors, was in possession of looted artifacts smuggled out of 11 countries by 12 criminal networks, according to a statement from the Manhattan District Attorney's (DA) office on Monday.
"For decades, Michael Steinhardt displayed a rapacious appe e for plundered artifacts without concern for the legality of his actions, the legitimacy of the pieces he bought and sold, or the grievous cultural damage he wrought across the globe," said Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance, Jr. in the statement.
"His pursuit of 'new' additions to showcase and sell knew no geographic or moral boundaries, as reflected in the sprawling underworld of antiquities traffickers, crime bosses, money launderers, and tomb raiders he relied upon to expand his collection."

https://www.cnn.com/style/article/mi...ntl/index.html

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