Cairo: As part of Egypt's ongoing national efforts and strong commitment to recover smuggled antiquities, Ambassador Wael El-Naggar, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Cultural Relations, participated in a ceremony where seven recovered antiquities were handed over from Washington to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. This event marked another achievement in Egypt's mission to protect cultural property and preserve its ancient history.

According to State Information Service Egypt, this recovery was facilitated through collaboration between the Egyptian Embassy in Washington, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. The efforts were guided by a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two nations in November 2021, aimed at safeguarding cultural property. The artifacts returned to Egypt include a ushabti statue, an amulet of the god Set, a stone scarab, two stone human heads, a mummified falcon head, and a mummified fish.

The Assistant Minister highlighted that this achievement reflects the successful cooperation between various state institutions. It underscores Egypt's unwavering commitment to protecting its historical identity and cultural heritage. Moreover, it demonstrates the country's full adherence to Egyptian antiquities laws and international agreements that prohibit the illegal import, export, and transfer of cultural property.