FBI returns stolen antiques to Vietnam

The items, a vase and a set of tools comprising a stone ax and eight bronze pieces, was handed over to the embassy last Friday, according to an online announcement Sunday.

According to the FBI, the items pertain to a 2013-2014 case.

Ten antique items stolen by an American man was handed over to Vietnam by the FBI on August 5, 2022. Photo by Vietnamese Embassy in U.S.

An FBI representative said at the handover the bureau’s cultural and art crime investigation team had discovered and seized an extensive collection exceeding 7,000 cultural artifacts illegally held by an American citizen, the largest seizure related to cultural property in the history of the FBI.

Before his recent death, the culprit had expressed his wish to return the artifacts to their communities and countries of origin.

After classifying, storing, and coordinating with experts, the FBI confirmed the 10 items were from Vietnam though it could not estimate their ages.

The items will be transferred to the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Vietnam and the Vietnam National Museum of History for further study and assessment.