GIS Stops Two Trucks Carrying Stolen Sudanese Antiquities

Port Sudan – Sudanhorizon

The Sudanese General Intelligence Service stopped two Land Cruiser pickup trucks at the border with South Sudan, carrying historical antiquities stolen by the Rapid Support Militia from the National Museum in Khartoum.

The intelligence elements arrested a Sudanese citizen active in the trade of looted antiquities and in connection with the crime that shook cultural circles in the local and international communities.

The Minister of Culture and Information, Graham Abdel Qader, revealed in the symposium organized by Radio Belady on Thursday, September 19, 2024, at the Seaports Club in Port Sudan, that the General Intelligence Service monitored and obtained audio and video recordings of the movement of the trucks in question to South Sudan, and tracked them until they stopped them and arrested the main element coordinating the theft operation.

Graham said that the parties to the crime of stealing Sudanese antiquities set the prices of antiquities for buyers on the other side in the manner of: “A large antiquity is priced at this price, and a small one is priced at that price,” according to the recorded recordings, according to the minister.

The minister added: “The fall of the antiquities thief into the hands of the security services will reveal the threads that lead to the rest of the criminals, whether countries, entities, or individuals. This is a heinous crime that will be added to the black pages of the Rapid Support Forces rebels.”

Arab and Western media outlets and cultural circles interested in human heritage have been buzzing over the past few days with the unprecedented crime committed by the rebel Rapid Support Forces militia by its blatant theft of the Sudan National Museum, which contains (40) thousands rare antiquities that document the civilizations of Sudanese peoples since prehistoric times.

The Minister of Culture and Information reassured the Sudanese that the security and judicial services have tightened their coordination with the relevant authorities, organizations, and countries. They are continuing their contacts to recover the antiquities that were stolen and sold by the Rapid Support Forces militia thieves.