Swiss customs seize Chinese statue from UK

A terracotta statue dating back to about 200 BC has been returned to the Chinese authorities after being intercepted by customs in Switzerland, the Swiss government said on Friday.
The statue from the Han dynasty measures about 47 centimetres (18.5 inches) and is thought to be of a servant, the federal department of culture said in a statement.
It was recovered by customs officers at Basel Mulhouse airport in a package originating from Britain and bound for an address in the canton of Vaud, near Geneva.
"In Switzerland, cultural items must be declared," said the ministry, adding that because the parcel was not declared as such, it was confiscated.
Comments
See Also
The statue from the Han dynasty measures about 47 centimetres (18.5 inches) and is thought to be of a servant, the federal department of culture said in a statement.
It was recovered by customs officers at Basel Mulhouse airport in a package originating from Britain and bound for an address in the canton of Vaud, near Geneva.
"In Switzerland, cultural items must be declared," said the ministry, adding that because the parcel was not declared as such, it was confiscated.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.