Cambodia welcomes return of centuries-old artifacts taken by notorious smuggling ring

Cambodia welcomes home 74 ancient artifacts that officials say looters stole during decades of war and unrest

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodian officials on Friday welcomed back more than six dozen centuries-old artifacts described as part of the country’s cultural heritage that had been looted during decades of war and instability.

At a ceremony attended by Deputy Prime Minister Hun Many, the 74 items were unveiled at the National Museum in Phnom Penh after their repatriation from the United Kingdom. The artifacts were returned under a 2020 agreement between the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and the family of the late Douglas Latchford, an art collector and dealer who is blamed for having had the items smuggled out of Cambodia.

“This substantial restitution represents one of the most important returns of Khmer cultural heritage in recent years, following major repatriations in 2021 and 2023 from the same collection,” said a statement from the Culture Ministry. “It marks a significant step forward in Cambodia’s continued efforts to recover, preserve, and restore its ancestral legacy for future generations.”

The artifacts were described as dating from the pre-Angkorian period through the height of the Angkor Empire, including “monumental sandstone sculptures, refined bronze works, and significant ritual objects.” The Angkor Empire, which extended from the ninth to the 15th century, is best known for the Angkor Wat archaeological site, the nation’s biggest tourist attraction.

Latchford was a prominent antiquities dealer who allegedly orchestrated a long-running scheme to sell looted Cambodian sculptures on the international market.