Three smuggled artefacts, namely a 12cm Ganesha statue as well as 20cm Shiva and Parvati statues that are worth $86,000 or equivalent to Rp1 billion, on 12 July were returned to Indonesia. The repatriation was made after the Antiquities Trafficking Unit of the Manhattan District Attorney's Office and Homeland Security unveiled a cross-border antiquities trafficking ring. 

According to the press release, the artefacts were smuggled by an illegal antiquities dealers ring led by Indian-American Subhash Kapoor. The gang reportedly obtained the artefacts by looting Indonesian temples. Kapoor and his ring usually smuggled looted antiquities into Manhattan and sold the pieces through Kapoor Madison Avenue-based gallery, Art of the Past. The ring was also charged for its involvement with an antiquities trafficking network.

Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance Jr. handed over the artefacts to Indonesian Consul General in New York Dr. Arifi Saiman, witnessed by Deputy Special Agent for Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) Erik Rosenblatt. 

“The artefacts being repatriated are part of Indonesia’s rich cultural history. The seizure of these items and the return to their home country is significant as it highlights the continued cooperation and efforts taken by our agencies and governments to protect cultural history for future generations,” said Special Agent in Charge of HSI New York, Peter C. Fitzhugh.