Greek man arrested with stash of antiquities

THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) – Greek police arrested a veterinarian with more than 2,000 illegally excavated antiquities, including a small clay statue from pre-Columbian America, officials said Friday.

Police in the northern district of Halkidiki said the 47-year-old Greek man was arrested Thursday in the village of Nea Moudania, about 40 miles (60 kilometers) south of Thessaloniki.

The items were found in the man’s home and at his shop that sells items for pets. Police also confiscated a .22-caliber revolver found in the man’s car.

The confiscated antiquities included more than 1,500 silver and copper coins dating from the 4th century B.C. to the 3rd century A.D., Halkidiki anti-crime squad director Giorgos Tassiopoulos said. Police seized another 680 clay and bronze artifacts, including vases, lamps, statuettes and jewelry.

All appeared to be Greek, apart from a pre-Colombian clay figurine from central or southern America. By law, all antiquities found in Greece are state property.

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