NEW YORK— Five looted Indian sculptures worth at least $5 million were seized at Port Newark Wednesday by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The items were allegedly stolen by Subhash Kapoor. According to HSI, Kapoor was an established Manhattan antiques dealer who allegedly looted more than $100 million worth of Indian cultural artifacts. He was extradited to India this past July, and is currently facing legal prosecution there.
“Kapoor is one of the most prolific commodities smugglers in the world today,” said James T. Hayes Jr., special agent in charge of HSI New York. “We urge the art community to help us identify artifacts sold or donated by Subhash Kapoor so that we can ensure their legitimacy.”
One of seized sculptures, a 14th century bronze Parvati statue, is estimated to be worth at least $2.5 million. The other four artworks were bronze figures from Tamil Nadu.
Although the Parvati statue had been listed in the International Criminal Police Organization’s stolen works of art database, the Parvati managed to pass through the hands of six dealers under the guise of several false sources of origin documents. Its last dealer lived in Europe.
