Calay News
Spanish police have successfully recovered eleven pieces of gold, valued at over 60 million euros (almost 64 million dollars), belonging to Ukraine’s historical heritage. These artifacts, part of Ukraine’s cultural legacy, had been stolen and illegally exported before being intended for clandestine sale in Madrid. The treasures, which date back to the Greco-Scythian culture of the 8th to 4th centuries BC, were part of an exhibition in Kiev before being smuggled out of Ukraine prior to 2016.
Law enforcement not only managed to reclaim these valuable items but also dismantled a criminal network engaged in the illicit trafficking of cultural artifacts from Ukraine. The operation, a collaborative effort between the Spanish National Police, the Ukrainian Security Service, and assistance from Bulgaria, Albania, North Macedonia, and Cyprus, led to the arrest of five individuals—three Spaniards and two Ukrainians.
The stolen treasures were concealed and accompanied by falsified documents, suggesting affiliation with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, to facilitate their illegal sale. These artifacts, which couldn’t be sold through legitimate channels such as auctions, were part of a larger scheme masterminded by the primary suspect, an Orthodox priest residing in Madrid. Spanish authorities are currently examining the recovered pieces, underscoring the international effort to protect and preserve the world’s cultural heritage.
