$45 Million Worth of Ancient Greek Artifacts Returned to Greece After Major Repatriation Ceremony in New York.

New York, NY – In a moving ceremony held at the Consulate General of Greece in New York, 29 priceless ancient Greek artifacts—valued at approximately $45 million—were officially repatriated to their homeland. The event marked another milestone in the ongoing collaboration between the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and the Greek Ministry of Culture in combating the illicit trafficking of cultural treasures.

Consul General of Greece in New York, Iphigenia Kanara, welcomed distinguished guests and representatives from the District Attorney’s Office, calling the occasion “another testament to the fruitful and productive collaboration between the American authorities and, of course, the Greek Ministry of Culture.”

Representing District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr., Deputy District Attorney Matthew Bogdanos, a decorated Marine colonel and noted expert on antiquities trafficking, led the presentation. Bragg, unable to attend, extended his joy in seeing these invaluable works of art “returned to their rightful home—Greece.”

Bogdanos, himself of Greek descent with family roots in Lemnos, spoke passionately about the mission behind the repatriation efforts. “These Greek antiquities belong to the people,” he said. “They represent, in many respects, the best part of the world—our shared humanity. Over the last twenty years, we’ve had seven such repatriations and recovered more than 160 priceless antiquities worth about $45 million. But their real value cannot be measured in dollars or euros. They are living, breathing testaments to our cultural heritage—glimpses into our past and roadmaps to our future.”

Bogdanos praised his team and their partners for their tireless work, naming antiquities trafficking analysts Michael Chapman and Charlotte Laurum, among others, as essential to the operation. He noted that the artifacts had been seized from galleries and collections across New York, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which fully cooperated with the investigation.

Highlighting the broader scale of their mission, Bogdanos shared that the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has convicted 18 traffickers and seized over 6,000 artifacts worth more than $450 million from individuals, galleries, museums, and auction houses worldwide. “A criminal is a criminal,” he stated firmly, “whether it’s an individual, a gallery, or an auction house. Justice doesn’t care about wealth, nationality, or status.”

The returned collection includes objects dating from the Late Neolithic period to the 5th century B.C., and includes bronze objects, Mycenaean vases, jewelry, and a marble head of a Kouros, According to George Didaskalou, Secretary General of Greece’s Ministry of Culture, the pieces represent an “important and defining period of Greek civilization.” He praised the joint efforts between U.S. and Greek authorities, emphasizing their “steadfast commitment to protect, trace, and recover cultural heritage.”

Didaskalou also delivered a message from Greece’s Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, who expressed deep gratitude to the New York District Attorney’s Office, the Consulate General, and all involved in the effort. “Each artifact’s return,” she wrote, “is a restoration of memory and justice—a triumph for culture and humanity.”

The ceremony concluded with applause, reflection, and a shared resolve to continue the fight against cultural theft. As Bogdanos reminded the audience, “Everyone wants justice done; everyone wants antiquities returned. But we must remember—this is the place, and now is the time.”