Warsaw police have arrested a 34-year-old Ukrainian national for attempting to sell stolen archaeological artifacts, including medieval arrowheads and Roman-era ornaments, via an online auction portal.
Illegal Antiquities Trafficking
Officers from the Mokotów Property Crimes Unit apprehended the suspect after a report from the National Heritage Institute identified online advertisements for items likely obtained through illegal excavations. The seized inventory includes medieval metal arrowheads and decorative clothing fasteners dating back to the Roman period.
Investigation and Recovery
Following an investigation into the online accounts, police conducted a search of a property in Warsaw’s Praga-Południe district. Authorities confiscated 11 metal arrowheads and three decorative ornaments, along with electronic equipment related to the case.
Legal Consequences
The woman claimed the items were provided by her former partner in Ukraine to be sold. She has been charged under Article 108a of the Act on the Protection and Guardianship of Monuments for the illegal import of archaeological artifacts, a crime punishable by up to two years in prison.
