FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 20, 2000
#01-015
Washington, D.C. -- In a special repatriation ceremony today, US Customs Service Deputy Commissioner Charles W. Winwood returned an 18th century statue of the Virgin Mary to Ambassador Alfonso Rivero of the Peruvian government. The statue is considered to be a priceless cultural treasure of Peru.
In September 1999, the Embassy of Peru requested assistance from the US Customs Service regarding a Spanish colonial religious statue offered for sale on the Internet at www.ebay.com for $15,000. The Peruvians asserted that the statue belonged to the cultural heritage of their country, and had likely been imported in the US contrary to law.
Customs Cyber Smuggling Center investigated and identified the seller as an art dealer in San Francisco. Customs agents in San Francisco contacted the seller via the Internet and arranged an undercover meeting. Posing as potential buyers, the undercover Customs agents met with the seller and attempted to determine the circumstances surrounding the importation of the statue. Although unsuccessful in establishing the details of importation, the agents did not give up. Ultimately they revealed their identities to the seller, made him aware of the Peruvian request, and asked for the return of the stature. The seller stated he was selling the statue on consignment, and identified the owner of the statue as another San Francisco art dealer.
Following an investigation by US Customs agents, the art dealer's attorney negotiated the surrender of the statue. Under the terms of the agreement, Customs seized the statue in February 2000, and it was forfeited to the Federal Government.
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