February 11 (BTA) - An ancient helmet originating from modern-day Bulgaria was returned to this country by US authorities, said the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior. That was possible thanks to the New York District Attorney's Office leading a massive international operation to neutralize a criminal scheme for trafficking artefacts of cultural and historical value. Law enforcement agencies from 11 different countries (Bulgaria, Egypt, Greece, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Syria, Turkey) took part in the operation.

The helmet was seized from one of the world's largest collections of ancient artefacts after US investigators were able to prove that it had been imported through illicit trafficking. The headgear dating back to 500-400 BCE has an estimated worth of USD 200,000. It is made of iron, silver, bronze, and organic materials. Experts believe its place of origin is close to the village of Pletena, Southwestern Bulgaria and speculate it may have been worn by Philip II of Macedon.

On February 10, an official ceremony at the Consulate General of Bulgaria in New York marked the return of the antique. The Consul General Maya Hristova offered a letter of thanks from Interior Minister Boyko Rashkov to the heads of the US agencies who led the operation while partnering with the General Directorate Combating Organized Crime and the International Operational Cooperational Directorate with the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior.

In her speech Consul General Hristova said that this event strengthened the already excellent cooperation between the two countries law enforcement and judicial institutions. RY/NZ

Source: Sofia