Greek police bust ‘antiquities smuggling ring’

PATRAS, Greece (AFP) -- Greek police Tuesday arrested 26 people suspected of trafficking in antiquities, a police source in the southwestern port of Patras said following a nationwide raid.

Six of the arrested were foreigners, the source said, without revealing their nationalities.

The police were looking for 15 other people suspected of involvement in the smuggling ring. Initial investigations suggest the gang sold illegally acquired antiquities in auctions in Britain, Germany and Austria.

Police raids unearthed ancient statues hidden in a well near the village of Nemea in the Peloponnese region in the country's south.

The gang acquired antiquities including ancient coins, valued them and contacted potential buyers in Greece and abroad.