NEW YORK (AP) – Customs agents in New York have seized two stolen Italian artifacts that are more than 2,000 years old.

Immigration and customs authorities said Monday the red ceramic vases were illegally excavated in Italy, smuggled into the United States and offered for sale in New York.

The artifacts were recovered through a joint investigation by U.S. customs agents and Italian authorities.

One of the seized artifacts dates from about 350 B.C., and the other is from 460 B.C. They have a combined value of $120,000.

Authorities say they have identified a smuggling operation that moves items out of Italy to other locations in Europe and then to the United States. Some of the looted artifacts have ended up at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles.

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