US Returns 30 Ancient Artifacts, Stolen in the Late 20th Century, to Cambodia

Buddhist monks stroll through the ancient Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap province in Cambodia on July 16, 2010. Eugene Hoshiko/AP Photo

The United States returned 30 stolen artifacts to Cambodia on Monday after more than five years of investigation into “an organized looting network” that reportedly sold the pieces to international buyers.

Ricky J. Patel, a special agent with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s investigative unit, said the artifacts were stolen from Cambodian temples and palaces and smuggled across borders.