Egyptian authorities have successfully intercepted an illicit operation involving the theft of nearly 450 artefacts recovered from the seabed in the Abu Qir Bay near Alexandria. The artefacts, believed to date back to the Greek and Roman periods, were seized from two suspects who were planning to sell them on the black market.

The operation, conducted by the Ministry of Interior of Egypt in collaboration with the public security and tourism and antiquities agencies, successfully recovered a trove of historical items. According to an official Facebook statement, the artefacts included 53 statues with intricate carvings, three statues with human heads, 14 bronze cups, 41 tiles, 20 bronze pieces, and 305 artefacts made from shells. Investigators confirmed that all the items were retrieved from underwater archaeological sites in the Abu Qir Bay, an area known for its submerged relics of ancient Alexandria.

A criminal enterprise

The suspects, one of whom had a prior criminal record, confessed to diving in the bay and extracting the artefacts for illegal trade. The Ministry of Interior revealed that legal action has been initiated against them, and the recovered items are now under the care of specialised archaeological authorities for verification and preservation.

The artefacts are not just remnants, but living connections to ancient Alexandria, a city famed for its cultural and architectural marvels during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Underwater sites in the Abu Qir Bay have revealed relics from the lost cities of Heracleion and Canopus, offering a tangible glimpse into ancient civilisations that once thrived along Egypt’s Mediterranean coast.

A broader issue

The attempted theft highlights the persistent and serious challenges in protecting submerged archaeological treasures, which looters increasingly target due to their cultural and financial value. Egyptian authorities have intensified efforts to safeguard underwater heritage sites, employing advanced surveillance and public awareness campaigns.