The SSU, together the ESBU and the National Police of Spain, has dismantled a transnational criminal group that smuggled Scythian gold items from Ukraine to sell in the EU.

As a result of an international special operation, five members of the gang who tried to illegally sell Ukrainian artifacts have been apprehended in Madrid. One of the detained individuals is a representative of moscow patriarchate’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church from Ukraine.

During the investigation, 11 stolen golden items of Ukraine’s cultural heritage worth over EUR 60 mln were seized from the suspects.

These are precious items dating back to the VIII-IV centuries BC, including gold earrings, a pendant, chokers and a pectoral.

According to the investigation, the members of the criminal group illegally brought the objects from Ukraine to the European Union over 2014-2020.

The offenders then tried to ‘legalize’ the stolen cultural property by selling the items to foreign collectors and further reselling on the black market.

The law enforcement agencies documented their criminal actions in stages and detained the smugglers ‘red-handed’ when they were transporting the Ukrainian artifacts.

The investigation is ongoing to establish all the circumstances of the crime and bring the involved to justice.

The uncovered antiquities have been seized and an expert opinion was obtained confirming their belonging to Ukraine’s cultural heritage.

Efforts are underway to find all Ukrainian Scythian gold artifacts that were stolen from our country.

The operation was carried out under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor General’s Office, in cooperation with the Office of the MIA of Spain Attaché in Ukraine and the International Cooperation Unit of the National Police of Spain.