Monday, 25 May 2026
Egypt minister, Manhattan prosecutor discuss cooperation on recovering smuggled artefacts
Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy met with Matthew Bogdanos, Assistant District Attorney for Manhattan, during a visit to the United States to discuss expanding cooperation on the recovery of Egyptian artefacts smuggled out of the country.
Fathy praised what he described as strong and productive cooperation with US authorities in recent years, highlighting legal and diplomatic efforts that have led to the return of artefacts taken illegally from Egypt. He noted that 13 artefacts were recently recovered from the United States.
The minister said the process of reclaiming antiquities requires extensive legal work and close coordination among multiple agencies. He thanked the US side for its continued support, stressing that Egypt places “the highest priority” on the recovery of artefacts removed from the country unlawfully and works with international partners to pursue them through legal and diplomatic channels.
Bogdanos expressed appreciation for the level of cooperation with Egypt, saying coordination between the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and Egyptian authorities had become a model of international collaboration in the field of antiquities recovery. He said joint efforts with the foreign ministry and the tourism and antiquities ministry had resulted in the return of several artefacts seized in New York in recent months.
Bogdanos added that Egypt had become a leading international example in recovering smuggled heritage items, citing its legal, security and technical expertise. He underlined the importance of drawing on Egypt’s experience to support and train other countries in law enforcement, tracking trafficked artefacts and conducting related investigations.