Algerian antiquities posted on the internet for sale

The national gendarmerie of Annaba province (eastern Algeria) recovered a quantity of ancient coins and pieces of antiquities on their way to be sold by a man through internet.

• The smuggler (23) fell on trap set by the captain of the national gendarmerie of Tlemcen province (western Algeria), who collected advertisements showing antique pieces of arts and coins posted on a specialized web site, followed by the man’s phone number.
• The officer soon contacted him pretending to be highly interested in the offer and agreed upon a meeting in the province of Annaba. Following the telephone conversation, the man was intercepted by the elements of the national gendarmerie who seized a plastic bag in the smugglers’ car containing 66 pieces of coins of different sizes as well as a small statuette portraying a two -winged horse made of steal.
• While continuing their investigation inside the man’s house, the investigators recovered 36 pieces of coins, a jar and a mask made of bronze.
• As to the value of the smuggled pieces, the head of the communication cell at the national gendarmerie replied “these pieces are invaluable because they are part of the country’s cultural heritage”.