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Presented byKarl-Heinz KindCoordinator Works of Art UnitInterpol General SecretariatLyons, France

Interpol’s Role in the Fight against the IllicitTraffic in Cultural Property

SECRETARIAT GENERALINTERPOL’S ROLE

IN

The fight against the illicit traffic

in Cultural Property

STRUCTURES OF THESTRUCTURES OF THEICPO ICPO -- INTERPOLINTERPOL

GENERALGENERALASSEMBLYASSEMBLY

DELEGATESDELEGATESFROM MEMBERFROM MEMBER

COUNTRIESCOUNTRIES

EXECUTIVEEXECUTIVECOMMITTEECOMMITTEE

1 PRESIDENT1 PRESIDENT3 VICE3 VICE--PRESIDENTSPRESIDENTS

9 MEMBERS9 MEMBERS

SECRETARYSECRETARYGENERALGENERAL

GENERALGENERALSECRETARIATSECRETARIAT

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PURPOSE OF THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATIONORGANIZATION

( Article 2 )( Article 2 )

To ensure or promote the widest possible mutualassistances between all criminal Police Authorities,within the limits of the Laws existing in the differentcountries and in the spirit of the Universal Declarationof Human Rights.

To establish and develop all Institutions likely tocontribute effectively to the prevention andsuppression of Ordinary Law Crimes.

THE LIMITS OF THEICPO - INTERPOL ACTION

( Article 3 )

IT IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN FOR

THE ORGANIZATION TO UNDERTAKE

ANY INTERVENTION OR ACTIVITIES OF A

CHARACTER.

P O L I T I C A L , M I L I T A R Y ,P O L I T I C A L , M I L I T A R Y ,R E L I G I O U S OR R A C I A LR E L I G I O U S OR R A C I A L

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Global extent of art theft and illicit trafficking

Not measurable – lack of reliable statistics

INTERPOL overview for 2009

African countries (Sub-Saharan) :

Burkina Faso 4 thefts 6 objets

South Africa 4 thefts 4 objects

For comparison:

Germany 2 055 N/A

France 1 751 N/A

Czech Republic 1 521 1 648

TOOLS TO FIGHT AGAINST THE ILLICIT TRAFFIC IN STOLEN CULTURAL

PROPERTY

• Fast and wide diffusion of the information

- Telecommunications network

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Albania

Algeria

American Samoa - USA (SB)

Andorra

Argentina Argentina (RS) Argentina (SRB

Armenia

Australia

Austria

Azerbaijan

Bahrain

Bangladesh

Barbados

BelarusBelgium

Belize

Bermudas (SB)

Bolivia

Bosnia-Herzegovina

BotswanaBrazil

Bulgaria

Cambodia

Cameroon

Canada

Chile

China

Colombia

Costa Rica Côte d'Ivoire (SRB)

Croatia

Cuba

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark

Dominican Republic

East TimorEcuador

Egypt

El Salvador El Salvador (SRB)

Estonia

Fiji

Finland

Fyrom

France Georgia

Germany

Greece

Guatemala

Guyana

Honduras

Hong Kong - China (SB)

Hungary

Iceland

India

Indonesia

IranIsrael

ItalyJapan

Jordan

Kazakhstan

Korea (Rep. of)

Kuwait

Kyrgyzstan

Latvia

Lebanon

Libya

Liechtenstein

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Macao - China (SB)

Malaysia

Malta

Marshall Islands

Mexico

Moldova

Monaco

Morocco

Nauru

Nepal

Netherlands

New Zealand

Nicaragua Nigeria

Norway

Oman

Pakistan

Panama

Papua New Guinea

Paraguay

Peru

Philippines

Poland

Portugal

Puerto Rico - USA (SB) Qatar

Romania

Russia

Saudi Arabia

Serbia Montenegro

Singapore

SlovakiaSlovenia

South Africa

Spain

Sri Lanka

Suriname

Sweden

Switzerland

Syria

Thailand

Tonga

Tunisia

Turkey

Ukraine

United Arab Emirates

U. K.

United States

Uruguay

Venezuela

Vietnam

Ireland

Uzbekistan

Tajikistan

Brunei

LesothoSwaziland

Mozambique

Tanzania

Ouganda

Namibia

Angola

Gabon

Mauritania

Senegal

Guinea

Togo

Ethiopia

Yemen

Zimbabwe

Eritrea

Irak

Kenya

Bhutan

ChadNiger Sudan

ZaireZaire

Afghanistan

TOOLS TO FIGHT AGAINST THE ILLICIT TRAFFIC IN STOLEN CULTURAL

PROPERTY

•Poster of the most wanted works of art

Telecommunications network

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TOOLS TO FIGHT AGAINST THE ILLICIT TRAFFIC IN STOLEN CULTURAL

PROPERTY

Poster of the most wanted works of art

•Specialized computerized database

Telecommunications network

- Created in 1995

- For the international non specialized law enforcement

community

- Operates with visual and technical criteria

- Combines text information and images

- Contains no nominal information

WORKS OF ART DATABASE

GENERAL SECRETARIAT

Data supply

NCBs NCBs

NCBs NCBs

IPSGIPSGCompilerCompiler

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DATABASEASF

WORKS OF ART

August 2011: 37, 614 identifiable objects

Works of Art DatabaseRecords

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

40000

2000 2003 2006 Aug-11

17249

24707

30180

37614

Records by region(Aug. 2011)

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

Africa Americas Asia Europe M. East N.Afr.

204 5395 1373

27449

3193

EU

IQ

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Records from African Countries (Sub-Saharan)

South Africa 55 Sudan 5

Côte d’Ivoire 44 Zambia 5

Nigeria 34 Zimbabwe 5

Dem. Rep. Of Congo 11 Benin 4

Ethiopia 11 Centralafr. Rep. 3

Cameroon 10 Botswana 1

Angola 7 Senegal 1

Congo 5 Tanzania 1

Angola

Theft from National Museum of Anthropology in Lunda, c. 1980

Statue of Tshibinda Ilunga (initiated hunter)

Theft from museum in Dundo in 1979

incl. a headrest, seats and sculptures (Mwanangana chief)

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Zambia:

Theft from National Museum in Livingstone , June 1989

of 3 Statues and 3 masks (1 recovered)

Zimbabwe

Theft of a golden trophyfrom Museum in Bulawayo in February 1998

Theft of paintings and sculptures from private home in Harare in December 2000

South Africa

Theft from art gallery in Johannesburg in July 2002

Painting repres.

Apostel Thomas,

Study of El Greco

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Theft of sculptures from a vehicle during transit in Pretoria, November 2005

Gumboot dancer Figure with anteaters

Theft from private residence in Pretoria in July 2009

Painting,

Self-portait of Maud Sumner

Requirement for data entry:

Object must be uniquely identifiable!

WANTED:

GOOD DESCRIPTION

HIGH QUALITY PHOTOGRAPH

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TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS

Photographs are of vital importance in identifying and recovering stolen objects.

In addition to overall views, take close-ups of inscriptions, markings, and any damage or

repairs.

If possible,

include a scale or object of known size in the image.

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recto verso

particular of the scroll

particular of the chin rest

Image quality is crucial ……

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“OBJECT ID”CHECKLIST

TYPE OF OBJECT What kind of object is it (e.g.: painting, sculpture, clock, mask)?

MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUESWhat materials is the object made of (e.g.: brass, wood, oil on canvas)?How was it made (e.g.: carved, cast, etched)?

MEASUREMENTSWhat is the size and/or weight of the object? Specify which unit of measurement is being used (e.g.: cm., in.) and to which dimension the measurement refers (e.g.: height, width, depth)

INSCRIPTIONS AND MARKINGSAre there any identifying markings, numbers, or inscriptions on the object (e.g.: signature, dedication, title, maker’s marks, purity marks, property marks)?

DISTINGUISHING FEATURESDoes the object have any physical characteristics that could help identify it (e.g.: damage, repairs, or manufacturing defects)?

TITLEDoes the object have a title by which it is known and might be identified?

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SUBJECTWhat is pictured or represented (e.g.: landscape, battle, woman holding achild)?

DATE OR PERIODWhen was the object made (e.g.: 1893, early 17th century, Late Bronze Age)?

MAKERDo you know who made the object? This may be the name of a known individual (e.g.: Leonardo da Vinci), a company (e.g.: Tiffany), or a cultural group (e.g.: Hopi)

WRITE A SHORT DESCRIPTIONThis can also include any additional information which helps to identify the object (e.g.: color and shape of the object, where it was made).

KEEP IT SECUREHaving documented the object, keep this information in a secure place.

Implementation of conclusions by the Council of Europe (2008)

Aim: Facilitate data supply to and query of INTERPOL’s works of art database

Strong strategic partnership with Carabinieri TPC

Expected funding by European Commission

Modernization of INTERPOL’s database

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TOOLS TO FIGHT AGAINST THE ILLICIT TRAFFIC IN STOLEN CULTURAL

PROPERTY

Telecommunications network

Poster of the most wanted works of art

Specialized computerized database

•Direct access through I-24/7

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Searches in Works of art database

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000

2000 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 11-Aug

203 259 142 287

3877

4927

7187

8203

Public online access

8368

eASFPublic online access

ASF Mail

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

Africa Americas Asia Europe M. East N.Afr.

5097 SEARCHES IN 2009BY REGION

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

Africa Americas Asia Europe M. East N.Afr.

56

912

3929

55

EU

145

TOOLS TO FIGHT AGAINST THE ILLICIT TRAFFIC IN STOLEN CULTURAL

PROPERTY

Telecommunications network

Poster of the most wanted works of art

Specialized computerized database

Direct access through I-24/7

• Internet

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PUBLIC ONLINE ACCESS

Since 17 August 2009 via INTERPOL’s secure web site

By 1 Aug. 2011: appr. 2, 200 access rights granted

users from 79 countries

c. 18, 800 queries conducted

all sectors represented:

law enforcement agencies, state authorities,

international & non governmental organizations,

cultural instutions, museums,

lawyers, scholars, insurers, appraisers,

art market professionals, private collectors

www.interpol.int

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Interpol priority : Capacity building

- Conferences and meetings

- Working groups

- Training seminars

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Co-operation with other international organisations

• Memorandum of Understanding INTERPOL - WCO: November 1998

• Memorandum of Understanding INTERPOL - UNESCO October 1999

• Memorandum of Understanding INTERPOL - ICOM (International Council of Museums): April 2000

- Disclaimer advising buyers to check and request

documentation on licit provenance and seller’s

legal title

- Co-operation between Internet platforms and law

enforcement agencies

- Setting up of a central authority in charge of

permanently monitoring Internet sales

- Dissemination of art theft information for national

and international searches

- Facilitation of identification by reliable

inventories (e. g. Object ID)

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- Use of all available tools incl. INTERPOL’s

database to check suspicious items

- Tracking and prosecution of criminal activities

related to sale of cultural objects over the

Internet

- Establishment of legal measures to seize

cultural objects in case of reasonable doubts

concerning their licit provenance

- Return of seized objects to their rightful owners

2008:

Seizure of 3 cuneiform tablets in Peru and assistance provided by Spanish expert (UNESCO list)

February2009:

Handing over of anchor axe of SumerianKing Shulgi, c. 2000 BC, seized in Germany, during state visit to Iraq

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ICOM Red Listof African archaeological objects

Compiled to prevent the illicitexport and thus to ensurethe protection of African cultural Heritage

More info on all Red Lists:http//icom.museum/what-we-do/programmes/fighting-illicit-traffic/red.list.html

ICOM’s series of publication

« 100 missing objects »

Looting in

- Africa

- Angkor, Cambodia

- Europe

- Latin America

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Examples of successful

identification

Master of Saint Augustin’sLegend (XV Century)

Memento mori

Franz Franz MierisMieris the Older the Older (1635 (1635 –– 1681)1681)

A Man with his pipe at the window

TizianoTiziano VecellioVecellio(1489 (1489 –– 1576)1576)Ecce HomoEcce Homo

Theft of paintings on 26 May 1968from museum

In Sibiu, Romania

Returned on 18 July 1998

by the USA Customs

Recovery in Brasov, Romania on 13/14 November 2008

Stolen from private residences in Vienna in September 2008

Matteo di Siena« Madonna with Child »

Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller« The stubborn schoolboy »

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Thefts from a temple in prov. of Rajastan, India and recovery in New York in April 2010

Stolen in September 2009 Stolen in April 2009

Theft from Kabul Museum, Afghanistan, in 1994

Information supply from the UNESCO (670 items) in 2003

Proposal for sale in public auction in Munich, June 2010

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Theft from National Gallery in Harare, Zimbabwe in September 2006

Recovery in Warsaw, Poland in December 2006

2 masks

4 headrests

INTERPOL’S SUPPORT

TO PROTECT CULTURAL HERITAGE

DURING CRISIS PERIODS

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Egypt:

Thefts committed in 2011

Information supply by NCB Cairo (198 items recordedin ASF – data integration is on-going)

Libya:

Theft of 3 paintings from UK Ambassador’sresidence in Tripoli (Libya) in May 2011

(report by NCB London)

Côte d’Ivoire :

Theft of 37 artifacts from the « Musée des Civilisations»in March/April 2011 in Abidjan

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8th International Symposium on the Theft of and Illicit Traffic in Works of Art, Cultural Property

and Antiques,

Lyon, France

18 – 20 October 2011

Thank you very much

for your attention

KarlKarl--Heinz KINDHeinz KIND