Iraq seizes hundreds of rare antiquities and manuscripts in six provinces

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's National Security Service announced on Thursday that it conducted antiquities operations in Baghdad and five other provinces, recovering hundreds of historic artifacts, rare gold coins and manuscripts. The service's Baghdad unit seized a rare antique collection consisting of five statues, five pottery pieces, a cylindrical seal and old metal coins, according to the statement. Separate operations based on intelligence information and judicial orders were carried out in Kirkuk, Nineveh, Anbar, Babil and Wasit, where authorities recovered hundreds of historic artifacts, handwritten manuscripts and rare gold coins. Several antiquities traders and smugglers were detained during the operations. In Nineveh, a public official was caught red-handed while illegally subdividing and selling historic land. Legal proceedings have been initiated to transfer the recovered artifacts to the relevant bodies. All suspects and the seized items have been referred to the judiciary to complete legal procedures, the statement said.