US and ASEAN Address Artifact Trafficking

The US embassy in Manila convened law enforcement and cultural heritage specialists from ASEAN member-states for a four-day workshop last week. The program, funded by the US State Department, aims to disrupt criminal networks that profit from stolen artifacts and finance terrorism.

Chargé d’Affaires Y. Robert Ewing noted the connection between cultural property trafficking and transnational organized crime, citing groups like ISIS who have used antiquities sales for revenue.

Twenty participants from across Southeast Asia studied the complexities of trafficking and ways to strengthen agency coordination. Antiquities Coalition executive director Tess Davis explained that the global art market and weak regulation contribute to the problem.

US representatives shared investigative and prosecution approaches, including the benefits of Cultural Property Agreements designed to prevent artifacts from entering the United States. While participants created a roadmap for continued cooperation, the effectiveness of these efforts will depend on addressing the underlying issues within the international art market. The work to protect cultural heritage and disrupt criminal networks continues.