Ancient Iranian artefacts sold to Afghan gang on black market in Dubai

Stolen artifacts from the Achaemenid era
Stolen artifacts from the Achaemenid era

Two Achaemenid era artefacts that were smuggled out of Iran have been sold on the black market in Dubai for a fraction of their true value.

According to SedayeMiras, a website specializing in Iranian cultural heritage, the gold artifacts, originally priced at $3 million, were sold for just $1.1m to two Afghan men.

“The two brothers named Davoodshah and Ahmadshah are part of a group called the Afghan Brothers Gang in the world of artifact smuggling.

"They obtained the stolen treasures in Dubai after they were taken out of Iran by Iranian smugglers,” said the news outlet that covers Iran’s cultural heritage.

The stolen artifacts include a gold pendant depicting Darius I, its heavy gold chain, two ornate gold armlets, a set of Achaemenid-era women's jewelry, and a 2,500-year-old gold diadem.

Despite the scale of the theft mentioned by SedayeMiras, Iran’s Cultural Heritage Organization has yet to comment.

Since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, Iran's government has focused on the promotion of Islamic culture and values, taking a conservative stance on ancient relics predating Islam.

Countless historical sites and artifacts have since suffered from neglect, inadequate maintenance and protection, and the impact of environmental damage.