The Aporia · Lebanon returns 37 artefacts smuggled out of Egypt six years ago

Lebanon returned 37 ancient Egyptian artefacts to Egypt at a ceremony in Beirut this week. The items, including masks and statues dating back to pharaonic times, were seized from Beirut’s port in 2020 after being smuggled out of Egypt six years earlier. Lebanon’s Culture Minister confirmed the artifacts belonged to Egypt following an investigation with INTERPOL and Egyptian authorities over several years.

Written by AI on 2026-09-17, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

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Lebanon returned 37 artefacts to Egypt on Wednesday during a ceremony at the National Museum of Beirut. The items, which date back to ancient Egyptian civilization, were smuggled out of Egypt six years ago. Lebanon's Culture Minister Ghassan Salame confirmed that after investigating their identity and ownership, they belonged to Egypt. He handed them over to the Egyptian Ambassador to Lebanon, Alaa Moussa, emphasizing Lebanon’s commitment to adhering to the 1970 international convention on preventing illicit trafficking of cultural property. The artefacts were seized from the Port of Beirut in 2020, and Lebanon collaborated with INTERPOL and Egypt's public prosecutor for their return.

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Lebanon has returned 37 artefacts to Egypt that were smuggled out of the country six years ago. asserted

that → return → country

A ceremony was held at the National Museum of Beirut in the Lebanese capital on Wednesday to celebrate the handover of the artefacts, which date back to the pharaonic civilisation, more commonly referred to as ancient Egypt. asserted

which → hold → Egypt

Recommended Stories list of 3 items- list 1 of 3Why the Louvre heist feels like justice — but isn’t - list 2 of 3Egypt unveils Grand Egyptian Museum dedicated to its ancient civilisation - list 3 of asserted

heist → feel → civilisation

Sisi welcomes China’s President Xi in Grand Egyptian Museum tour “After investigating the identity and ownership of these items, it was determined that they belonged to Egypt,” said Lebanon’s Culture Minister Ghassan Salame as he gave the items to Egyptian Ambassador to Lebanon Alaa Moussa. asserted

he → welcome → Moussa

“We are setting an example in the strict implementation of the 1970 international convention concerning the prevention of the illicit trafficking of cultural property,” he was quoted as saying by Lebanon’s National News Agency. asserted

he → set → Agency

The artefacts were seized from the Port of Beirut in 2020. asserted

artefacts → seize → 2020

Lebanon spent years working with INTERPOL, Egypt and the country’s top public prosecutor to verify the ownership and authenticity of the items. asserted

Lebanon → spend → items

The collection consists of masks, wooden dolls, pieces of Coptic textiles, amulets made from glass paste, medium-sized statues and two wooden coffins decorated with colourful designs. asserted

collection → consist → designs

Laura Salloum, an official with Lebanon’s Directorate General of Antiquities, said the artefacts had been purchased by a Lebanese national without official documentation confirming their source. asserted

artefacts → say → source

Such items are regularly stolen from Egypt. asserted

items → steal → Egypt

Last month, 48 artefacts were returned to Cairo by the FBI Art Crime Team in the United States. asserted

artefacts → return → States

Egypt’s official press office announced on Wednesday that its embassy in the Swiss capital, Bern, had recovered an ancient golden mummy mask with the help of local authorities. asserted

embassy → announce → authorities

Lebanon returns 37 artefacts smuggled out of Egypt six years ago

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