A 53-year-old man was arrested in Alimos after being found in possession of valuable ancient artifacts, including amphorae dating back to the 5th century BC and the Byzantine period.

He is facing charges for theft and misappropriation of highly valuable monuments, violation of laws regarding the obligation to declare antiquities, and firearms violations.

Officers from the Southeastern Attica Crime Investigation Unit arrested the suspect on Thursday morning in Alimos. After receiving and analyzing intelligence, police discreetly placed the man under surveillance. During a search of his car, they found and confiscated:

• Three underwater amphorae with pointed bases dating from the 5th to 3rd century BC,
• One underwater amphora with a pointed base dated between the 5th and 1st century BC,
• One underwater amphora from the Byzantine period, and
• A hunting rifle.

The amphorae were transferred to the unit’s headquarters and examined by an archaeologist from the Ephorate of Antiquities of Piraeus and Islands, who confirmed that the artifacts fall under the protective provisions of the Law on the Protection of Antiquities.

The arrested man was taken to the Athens Public Prosecutor’s Office.