The vase, from the Yongle period of the Ming dynasty, is one of three artifacts stolen from the Museum of Far Eastern Art in Geneva in 2019.
London’s Metropolitan Police Service made the announcement after a British court found two men guilty on Friday of charges related to the gang’s attempts to sell the vase. Another man pleaded guilty to similar charges months ago and two others arrested in London are in Switzerland awaiting trial. All five hail from South East London.
“The organized crime group involved in this crime believed they could commit major international crimes and there would be no going back,” said Detective Chief Inspector Matt Webb of the Metropolitan Police’s specialist crime unit. “They were wrong, highlighting the strength of our relationships with international law enforcement partners and our ability to work across international borders.”
London police said they were cooperating with Swiss authorities in the investigation after an auction house reported that someone had asked for an estimate of the value of the stolen vase.
Undercover police officers offered 450,000 pounds ($573,000) for the vase and agreed to complete the purchase at a central London hotel, where they arrested the first suspect.
Police have offered a reward of 10,000 pounds ($12,734) for information leading to the recovery of a “doucai-style” wine glass, also stolen from the museum in Geneva. A bowl valued at 80,000 pounds ($101,872) was returned to the museum after it was sold at auction in Hong Kong in 2019.
The profitable market for stolen Chinese antiquities has given rise to several high-profile thefts in recent years; Millions of dollars worth of jade bowls, figurines and other items disappeared from British auction houses and museums in 2012.
FOUNTAIN: Associated Press
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