United-States, 28 April, 2011
The United-States returned 92 Pre-Colombian objects to Panama on 27 April after an investigation that lasted over 10 years. The items, potteries mostly, date from 1500 BC and are estimated at around 100 K$.
The objects were found in 2005. During a plea deal, a scholar from Oregon admitted he had illegally smuggled them onto the American territory.
If the restitution of the works is so tardy, says John Morton, American Customs Director, it is because the investigation required a lot of time. In 1998, Panama had talked to the American authorities about their suspicions of fraud.
While visiting the USA, Panama President Ricardo Martinelli expressed his satisfaction during a press conference hosted at the Customs House. “We are very happy and satisfied not only with the restitution but more generally with our relationships with the United States.”