Gold artefacts valued at €60m seized in Spain, stolen from Ukraine

Madrid:  Spanish authorities on Monday successfully recovered stolen gold artefacts worth an estimated 60 million euros ($63.6 million) that were taken from Ukraine.

The seizure came after the perpetrators attempted to sell the treasures in Madrid, according to a statement released by the Spanish police on Monday.

The collection comprises 11 distinct pieces, primarily consisting of exquisite jewellery items such as intricate necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. Notably, these artefacts date back to the Greco-Scythian period, spanning from the 8th to the 4th centuries BC, as confirmed by the police.

These invaluable items had previously been on display at a museum in Kyiv from 2009 to 2013. However, they were unlawfully smuggled out of Ukraine in 2016. The Madrid National Police did not disclose the specific identity of the museum involved in this incident.

What adds to the intrigue is that the stolen artefacts were accompanied by fraudulent documentation, falsely suggesting that they were the property of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, as revealed by the police.

The investigation into this case was initiated in 2021 and has now borne fruit with the successful recovery of these historical treasures. This breakthrough came after one of the stolen pieces, a gold belt adorned with rams' heads, was sold in a private transaction within the city of Madrid.

In connection with this ongoing investigation, three Spanish nationals and two Ukrainian individuals have been apprehended. Their arrests mark a significant milestone in the effort to return these culturally significant artefacts to their rightful owners and heritage.