Vietnamese Ambassador in the US Nguyen Quoc Dung (third from the right) receives the handover of illegally-obtained cultural artefacts originating from Vietnam from the FBI. (Photo: VNA)The transfer took place at the Vietnamese Embassy inWashington last week in the presence of representatives from the US’sDepartment of State and Department of Homeland Security.
According to FBI, the US agency took possession of more than7,000 artefacts illegally acquired by an American citizen during an operationfrom 2013 – 2014. It is the largest single discovery of cultural property inFBI history.
A year before his death, the man agreed to relinquish theseitems and wished to return them to their rightful owners. With the help ofexperts, the FBI has managed to identify several unidentified artefacts from Vietnam,including a vase/pot, an 8-piece set of tool kit made of bronze,and a stone axe.
Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dung, who received thehandover, thanked the local authorities for coordinating with Vietnam to combat transnational crimes,particularly those in cultural and artistic affairs, adding it demonstrates the US’s goodwill and commitmentto enforcing the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (UNTOC).
He further noted that the items will be transferred to theMinistry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the National Historical Museum forassessment and exhibition.
The diplomat reiterated that the embassy stands ready to boost cooperation between the two countries’ ministries andagencies./.
VNA
