16 ancient Egyptian artifacts that were going to be smuggled out of Egypt have been recovered by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in cooperation with the security services of the Safaga seaport. The artifacts have been seized by the archaeological unit in the port.
According to Dr. Mostafa Waziri, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, the archaeological unit in the port, received a report that some artifacts were suspected of being of archaeological value. Following this announcement, the Archaeological Ports Unit in the Red Sea, formed a committee headed by the archaeologist Hijazi Abbas.
The committee examined and inspected the artifacts, confirming their antiquity. The committee then ordered they must be confiscated and handed over to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in accordance with the Antiquities Protection Law No. 117 of 1983 and its amendments.
According to Hamdi Hammam, head of the Central Administration of Ports and Archaeological Units, the confiscated items included 16 ancient pieces of wood, bronze statues, a funerary funnel made of burnt clay and inscribed in the ancient Egyptian script, the remains of funerary masks of colored cartonnage, and amulets made of faience and gold-pleated wood.