THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) – Police in northern Greece say they have arrested four people for trying to sell two religious icons and a golden cross dating to the Middle Ages for euro5 million ($7 million).

The arrests follow a sting operation in which an undercover officer posed as a prospective buyer. Police say the icons – religious paintings on wood – represent Greek Orthodox saints. All three artifacts were confiscated.

Under Greek law, all ancient and medieval artifacts are state property. Their sale by anyone except a small number of licensed traders and collectors is strictly prohibited.

Police said on Thursday that a large number of other antiquities was confiscated following raids on the suspects’ homes in Serres, a town 50 miles (80 kilometers) northeast of Thessaloniki.

The suspects were identified as Greeks aged 56 to 74.

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AP-ES-09-11-08 1653EDT