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issued: MAY 2015

Audience. CBSA National QPeatons
Enforcenw.ntaM Intelligence Pnority: Security Expiry: DEC 2015

Intc1Hgncc ( )pr.iLitin. .ind \ ti.ilviis l)ivision

The Theft and Sale of Antiti u itics by Militant C ron ps

to Finance their Operations 10 D2oI5-.1-4uHi

Rvoiiiitieii (led br Shift Biieilngl

Executive Summary

1. Opensource reporting states that violent militant organizations such as at Qaeda (AQ) and affiliates, the
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levani (ISIL) and even members of the Free Syrian Army have been engaged in
the wholesale theft/looting of antiquities from museums libraries and archeological sites in Iraq and Syria. The
antiquities are then smuggled out of the region and sold for profit It is estimated that some terrorist groups
have earned millions of dollars from the sale of cultural heritage items (U)
2 This priwttce has led to the looting of museums, libraries and archives in Iraq and Syria as well as the looting
and destruction of archeological sites, including UNESCO World Heritage sites, by individuals working for or
in cooperation with militant organizations. (U)
3. Open-source reporting shows that ancient cultural items, such coins and figurines, stolen from sites in Iraq and
Syria have appeared for sale on the Internet and been intercepted by authorities in Europe and North America.
Since I 978, any cultural item illegally exported from Iraq and Syria is a prohibited import to Canada under the
cult u.ral Property Export cmd Import Act (U)
4. In recognition of the severity of the problem inFebruary 2015 the United Nations Security Council
unanimously adopted Resolz#ion 2199 which is designed, in part, to prevent terrorism funding through the theft
and sale of cultural heritage items such as antiquities. (U)

Background

5. Open-source reporting states that various violent militant organizations including AQ affiliates, IS IL and
possibly members of the Free Syrian Army have been engaged in the systematic looting of cultural antiquities
from museums, libraries, archives and archeological sites in both Iraq and Syria. The antiquities are smuggled
out of the region and sold for p:rofit around the world including in Europe and North America. (U)

6. The United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO) states that a number of
sources have reported to them that numerous archaeological sites m Syria are being systematically targeted
for clandestine excavations by well-organized and often armed groups, not all originating from Syria. (U)

7 ISIL has reportedly even created an official office to administer the theft/looting and sale of antiquitit.s, In
the city of Manbij, the Islamic State reportedly has established an office to handle looted antiquities and a
market for digging equipment such as metal detectors Arttfac.ts are sold to IS-approved dealers who complete

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Canadi
INs document the property of the Canada Border Sereices Agency (CBSA) and should not be edossi&d or disserrdaated without prier consent of the
originator The inuormatson must be stored. Ira snStted and sakguasdcd in accordanci with its ciastIjcatinn lesei, as outlined in the Government Sacuntv Pobc,
end the CSSA Secunt) Pohcies If access is requested under the Acme is lrreithcw Ad or the Prwary Ad no decisiOn houId be taken without prior consultation
with da onginator as the infonnation man be subject to exemptions Requtab foraddtionat use should be forwarded to the Intelligence Operations and Analysis
Division mailbox
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the transaction in U.S. dollars, and are then granted safe passage through IS territory.
ISIL reportedly not
1
only loots historical cultural items themselves hut may also be allowing others to loot artifacts in exchange for
a payment of 204o-50% of the proceeds. (U)

Analysis

8. Organized crime enterprises and violent extremiSt organizations have been involved in the theft, smuggling and
sale of antiquities for decades. But the scale of the reported looting of antiquities from museums, libraries,
archives and archeological sites in Iraq and Syria has surpassed illicit operations in previous years. The looting
is reportedly both extensive and widespread, in some cases heavy construction equipment such as earth
evacuators have been used at archeological sites. (U)

,.-11) and qfIer ( J ) Iis massive looting, I-

9. The extremist groups conduct, organize or allow the looting but may not be directly connected to the
movement of the cultural artifacts once they leave Syria or Iraq Open source reporting indicates that mugglers
often attempt to move the artifacts into Europe utilizing smuggling routes from Turkey. I tbanon, Israel or the
Gulf States onwards through countries such as Cyprus Or Portugal to dealers in Europe. Some of these artifacts
have appeared for sale on eflay including in one case an ancient coin made in 500 BC, while other items arc
sent to auction houses or sold vi existing black market netvorks for these types of goods En one recent
example looters attempted to sell Bronze Age statutes from ISIL-controlled regions for $30,000 USD. Other
ancient masterpieces reportedly may sell for Si-million USD or more,is (U

10. According to one US-based expert once the artifacts reach a dealer 5
They will be written up with false
accreditation papers. It won
t say that they are from Syria or Iraq it will just say the Holy Land. [...J At the low
1
end, coins will appear in online auctions [,..j, and the high end stuff will be more directly dealt, [by a middle

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L

I
anaaa
This document is the property f the Canada fiorder Serulcee A ency (CBSA) and tho,dd not be reclassified or disseminated ththout prior consent of the
5
rtg,nalor The mfnssthon renal be stored transnutted. and sateruacdeLi in ScCofdanLH With its d,tatti&tion lEVel AS outittied in the t.LWEfliiTii nt Security Pabc
and foe C1ISA Securil Policies If acceee is requested under the A,re,c fy hfirmahn, I I or the Pnzary A, rio decision should be taken without prior consultation
with the origirtalssi. as the ifonsiaNrin may be subiect tiossemptioris Requests for additinnI use should be forwarded to the Intelligence Operstions and Analysis
Dicision mailbos
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man who knows the taste of wealthy buyers.

TM When looted antiquities arrive in their tinal destination with
false papers

(U)

Summary of Indicators

ii.

12.

13.

14,

Implications for the CBSA and Canada

15. BSOs have the authority to detain cultural property imported from Syria and Iraq. Please consult 1)-Memo 19-
4-I on the Export am! Import of Cultural Property for detailed information regarding the CBSA import controls
on cultural property. (P13)

If Encountered

Please contact C[3SA 001) Programs Division at HQ for further instructions on the disposition
1
of the sispect items. PB)

Prepared by: P.G., Intelligence Operations

3 pfoi[CTtCN SF Hjt NTFP:TY

Canad
ThAs inen is th property of the Canada Border Servkes Ageney (CHSA) and houid be r asi1frd or disseminated without prior eonasnr of the
cLrigtnatctr The infnnation must be stornL transmitted, and safeguarded in accordance with its dasificatfon kek as outlined in the Govemment &curif Pokey
and th C5A Sccuztty tLohctes, If access is requested under the Acos Fe Inferniathn Atl or the Privacy Ad,.no decision should be taken without prior cerrsuharktn
with th originator as the informati niay be sutfrct to esenptions. Requests for additional usesbvaild be forwarded to the Intelligence Operstion sod Anlsis
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Appendix A:

Link to the International Council of Museums (ICOM) detailed listing of SyrianCultural Items at Risk.
Titis listing includes categories, photographs and descriptions of the types of cultural items at risk for theft
and illicit sale by violent militant organizations.
http:/Jicom.museum/fileadmin/user upload/irnages/Redllsts/Syria/ERL SYRIE EN,pdf
ICOM has also produced a detailed listing of Iraqi antiquities at risk:
http:J/icom.museum/fileadmin/user upload/images/Redlists/lraq/Redlist Irak English.pdf

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11.1
%anaQa
lids document is the property of the Canadi Border Services Agency (CIISA3 and should riOt be redassitled or disseminate4 wtthot prior consent of the
originator. The infomiatirin must be stored, transmitted, arid safeguarded in acCordance with its classi&atiott IevI, as outlined itt the (eTverflment Swurity Policy
arid the CBSA Secutitv Policies, if access is requested under the Aurss tri lnJbrmetfte Act or the Pritar Act no decision should be taken without prior consultUtion
with the originator, as the irthrnnation may be sulecl to exemptions. Requests fr additional use should be forwarded to the Tntelligence Operations and Anabsis
Division tnalll,os
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*
a

Appendix B:

Production Distribution Consumption

I

,,:
[oliectors]

Dggers
j rmedes1 [Deaters]
[ Museums j
Source Country Destination Country

Relocation Delocation
www,artwiscom A Model of the Antiquities Trade

5 PR(1 (HQN SERi[ NT[

Danad
This docnnwnt is the pnYpei-tv 01 the Canada Hrdr Services Ageriri tCIISA) and should not be redassifted or disseminated without prior cnrrvnt of the
odginatne lbs information must be stored. transmitted, and safegislided in aoronfanre wIth itt dassli ation leveL as outliried irs the (0vernmenl ScounlY Poiks
arid the CBSA5ccwitv Policies, if scresa is requested under the Aones is b,rnatirrn Ad or the Phtscnj Aci, no dcdsk,n should be rakon without prior consultatbn
with the oiator, sa the infomsabon nsa be subject to exernphons. Requests for rsddhitssal use shook! be forwarded to th Intelligence Operations and nnalvsis
Dhiskar malibor
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4k

End Notes:

UNESCO: Safeguarding Syrian Cultural Heritage System rat IC excavations of archaeoloqica! sites
Wall Street Journal: Syrian Monuments Men /Race to Protect Antiquities as Looting BnkroIis Terror February 10, 2015
Congressional Research Service; Islamic State Financing and U.S. Policy Approaches April 10, 2015

Antiquities Coalition: Culture in Conflict: Where Can ISIS Get $1 Million?

Orlando Crowcroft, International Business Times: ISIS: Islamic States War on History and the Multimillion Dollar Global
Antiquities Trade April 13, 2015

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Canad
Tht docutnent is the propcst of the Canada l3ordr Servkes Agemy ICIISA) and should not he r tsified or disseminated without prior consent of the
originator. The information must be stored, transmitted, and safeguarded in aCCordance with its clat4ficatinn leeeL as outhnd in the Government Security Policy
sod the CI3SA Security Policies, ft access is requested underthe Acass to Inorrnatsst Act or th Porect Art, no dcjsinn should be taken without prior cruultaHon
with the origiator as the information may be subiect to eueinptions. Requests for dditiotsa1 use should be forwarded Eu the Intelligence Operations and Mohsis
Pivision mailbox