Rare and Priceless Artifacts Repatriated to Costa Rica by US Customs and Border Protection after 6-Year Odyssey
US Customs and Border Protection reunites Costa Rica with its treasured artifacts, successfully repatriating three historic pieces after nearly 6 years of their illicit removal to the US
Three Costa Rican historical artifacts have finally been repatriated to the country, nearly six years after an international traveler transported them to the United States. The United States Customs and Border Protection revealed that these ancient relics were confiscated by customs officers in December 2017 from a central Florida resident, who had failed to provide valid documentation upon their arrival at Orlando International Airport.
Upon conducting a secondary inspection, CBP's agricultural specialists harbored suspicions that the traveler, arriving from San Jose, Costa Rica, was unlawfully in possession of protected artifacts, lacking evidence of legal consent for their removal from the country, as per authorities.
In response, CBP promptly informed Costa Rica, prompting the country to file a petition for the return of the objects, asserting that they had been stolen and were the rightful property of the people of Costa Rica under its cultural patrimony laws, according to the release. CBP subsequently approved Costa Rica's petition.
The CBP stated that the objects were thought to have been used for funerals or in homes during the time from 300 B.C. to 880 A.D.
According to experts from the National Museum of Costa Rica, one of the artifacts is a tripod pot that is lacking its three supports. It is described as being adorned with red clay in certain areas, along with the natural color of the material, and features decorations in the form of zoomorphic shapes.
The second object, known as a raffle, is described by experts as a hollow support featuring a mammal head with a "zoomorphic motif." Meanwhile, the specialists referred to the third item as a decorative fragment that was previously supported by a vase with tall supports.
On Thursday, the Honorable Ludmila Patricia Ugalde Simionova, who serves as Consul General of Costa Rica in Miami, received the artifacts, according to CBP.
Migrants board Border Patrol vans on the US-Mexico border in El Paso, Texas, on May 11, 2023.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP/Getty Images/FILE
The country's precious artifacts are at risk due to looting and illicit trades of antique items, warns Simionova.
Simionova stated that our cultural heritage holds invaluable worth, as it embodies our profound history and distinct identity. Through collaborative efforts and bilateral agreements, we have successfully reclaimed numerous stolen cultural treasures.
In January 2021, the US and Costa Rican governments entered into a Memorandum of Understanding, aiming to safeguard designated categories of archaeological materials, as per the CBP. This agreement implies that if customs officers discover any artifacts falling within these categories, they will be promptly repatriated to Costa Rica.
