Antiquities smugglers arrested in Ayn Issa by North and East Syria security forces

AYN ISSA, Syria — The Organized Crime Office of the Internal Security Forces (ISF) of North and East Syria’s Euphrates Region arrested three antiquities smugglers in Ayn Issa, seizing several rare artifacts and a metal detector that was used in locating antiquities for excavation.

“Three people were arrested in an operation while they were trying to smuggle rare artifacts through villages and towns to sell them in exchange for money,” security sources reported.

According to the Organized Crime Office, the three people used a metal detector to search for and extract antiquities. The detector and the artifacts were confiscated. The smugglers were arrested and are in detention awaiting trial.

The laws of the Democratic Autonomous Administration (DAA) of North and East Syria consider antiquities smuggling a criminal offense punishable by imprisonment.