The report claims that the men were arrested by police in 2011 as they were preparing to sell several ancient artifacts valued at 11.5 million euros. The priceless goods were part of a large Macedonian treasure which they had hidden in the area of Gerakarou, near the city of Thessaloniki.
Authorities took on the case after the Greek Ministry of Culture received an anonymous letter revealing the men’s connection to illicit antiquities trade.
It is reported that among the treasures recovered by police were four helmets, golden masks and mouthpieces, a glass vase, clay and metallic vessels, clay figurines, rosettes and other golden objects, including a section of a golden diadem with embossed decoration, and fragments of an iron sword with decoration.
One of the antiquities smugglers also showed police the two archaic tombs from which they stole most of the objects.
The artifacts were so important that after they were confiscated, they were transferred to the National Archaeological Museum of Athens where they were officially presented.