Police stops artifacts trafficking

ELBASAN, June 8 – Police in the central city of Elbasan arrested five persons and stopped them from smuggling of ancient archaeological artifacts into Macedonia.
The traffickers allegedly intended to smuggle three copper statuettes from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, a precious icon, a 50-kilogram bronze church bell from the seventeenth century and other ancient artifacts into neighboring Macedonia.
police also confiscated a large sum of money, weapons and two Mercedes vehicles.
The deal, according to the report, was supposed to bring them 20,000 euro.
Five people from Elbasan were arrested.
In another case police found the alleged thief of an orthodox church in Korca, 180 kilometers southeast of Tirana.
Xhentil Kupe, 43, was arrested from police after an arrest warrant was issued charging him with the theft attempt at the Saint Mary church in Voskopoja.
Police believes and is investigating to prove whether the same person is the author of some other break-in attempts at the churches in the same district during the recent years.