The Security Service of Ukraine uncovered two residents of Mykolaiv who were illegally searching for archaeological artifacts at sites of ancient settlements in the Kherson and Mykolaiv regions.
This was reported on the SBU’s page.
“SBU officers documented the men’s intent to illegally sell antiquities abroad. To this end, they found an interested foreign buyer through a specialized online platform and established contact with him. To conceal the valuable finds, the suspects placed them inside an electronic device and handed them over for further transport on an international bus route,” the post says.
During customs control at the “Starokozache – Tudora” checkpoint, SBU officers together with employees of the Odesa customs office and the State Border Guard Service discovered hidden artifacts.
According to experts, among the antiquities were Olbian “dolphin” coins (6th–4th centuries BC), “Borysphen” coins (4th–3rd centuries BC), and a silver denarius of the Roman Empire, which are cultural valuables and have historical, scientific, and artistic significance.
Their movement across the state border of Ukraine is possible only with the appropriate permit, the SBU noted.
During searches of the men’s places of residence, law enforcement officers found more than 300 other ancient items that they intended to sell abroad.
On the basis of the collected evidence, investigators notified them of suspicion of committing a crime provided for in Part 2 of Article 15 and Part 2 of Article 201 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
The pretrial investigation is ongoing.