Cultural Property, Art and Antiquities Investigations Fact Sheets
Cultural Property, Art and Antiquities Investigations - Investigating the loss or looting of cultural heritage properties and returning them to their countries of origin are an important part of ICE’s diverse mission. ICE, as a legacy of the U.S. Customs Service, has authorities that target a wide range of criminal activities, many of them involving smuggling and trafficking, both of goods and people. The agency often investigates leads to art and artifacts that are important evidence of the history and cultural heritage another nation. ICE takes pride in bringing to justice those who would trade in such items for personal profit and in returning to other nations these priceless items.
World War II Cultural Artifact Cases (PDF | 116 KB) - Stolen art, looted antiquities, fraudulently acquired artifacts – these are the little known casualties of war. While the Nazi regime made a practice of looting art and other cultural property during the Holocaust, the loss of other works during World War II has been attributed to Soviet troops and even U.S. servicemen. In the years since, technology has made it easier for thieves and traffickers to move these priceless items around the globe. As such, investigating the loss or looting of cultural properties and returning them to their countries of origin are an important part of ICE’s diverse mission.
