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The defendants were caught by Operation Ghelas, which has dismantled a major Italian antiquities smuggling operation across Western Europe. Carried out by the Italian Cultural Patrimony Protection (TPC) squad, the operation concluded last summer with an unprecedented 85 indictments and 52 arrests. Fifteen tomb raiders have already pleaded guilty to various charges.

More than 2,000 antiquities were recovered, such as amphorae, statues, and coins from major archaeological sites in Sicily. Some had been distributed through intermediaries in Switzerland, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The hunt began three years ago after Sicilian police confiscated antiquities and metal detectors and wiretapped several Gela residents. Insights from Operation Ghelas have furnished leads for other investigations, taking the Sicilian TPC squad to Rome in recent weeks.