SOFIA, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Bulgarian authorities arrested 35 suspects on Wednesday in a Europol-coordinated operation targeting an international network trafficking cultural artifacts.
The sweep, conducted with law-enforcement agencies from Albania, Germany, Greece, France, Italy and Britain, involved searches in 15 Bulgarian cities and multiple locations abroad.
More than 130 properties, vehicles and bank safes were searched across five countries, including 120 in Bulgaria. The search yielded a large haul of cultural valuables including gold and silver coins, ceramics, jewelry, artworks, as well as weapons, ammunition, cash, metal detectors and documents.
The investigation lasted over four years. Authorities say the criminal network has been active for more than 16 years, supported by subcontractors in several countries.
