NEW DELHI, INDIA, August 26, 2020 (Wion News): In a major breakthrough, Kolkata Customs, the Commissionerate of Customs (Preventive) made the biggest seizure of antiques in recent times. The agency seized as many as 25 antique statues valued at US$4.9 million. On August 23 night, officials of the Commissioner of Customs (Preventive), West Bengal intercepted a truck at South Dinajpur district en route Bangladesh through Kaliyaganj border. Officials found antique statues carefully concealed in rice and hidden inside the truck.
Of the total 25 seized antique statues, there were seven stone statues of Goddess Parvati, Manasha Devi, Lord Vishnu and Lord Surya, seven Metallic artefacts made of Bronze and Octo Alloy used for casting metallic statues in Hindu and Jain Temples besides other 11 Terracotta statues. All the seized antiques range from 9th Century AD to 16th Century AD. Custom officials took help from the experts of Akshaya Kumar Maitreya Heritage Museum under the University of North Bengal, Siliguri for the valuation of the antiques after an examination. The experts confirmed that the seized artefacts are valued at US$4.9 million.