Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), in partnership with the U.S. Department of State, successfully returned a trove of stolen artifacts to Mali on Monday. 

HSI transferred the artifacts to Mali Ambassador Issa Konfourou, the permanent representative of Mali to the United Nations. This repatriation included six large funerary urns, a comb-impressed red slip double cup vessel, a high-necked polychrome pot, 913 ground and flax stones, and ax heads from the Neolithic Period, according to a press release from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 

“No one has the right to loot or destroy that heritage and history. HSI will continue to work with our partners around the globe to aggressively target anyone who pilfers the priceless cultural treasures of a nation and work tirelessly to return them to their people for future generations to enjoy,” said HSI Houston Special Agent Mark Dawson. 

The artifacts have been known to HSI since March of 2009 when customs officials reported a suspicious container at the Port of Houston claiming to contain replica items, the release said. The items were proven to be authentic on inspection. 

On June 26, 2009, the HSI team in Houston was able to initiate the forfeiture process, according to the U.S. Embassy of Mali. Civil unrest, however, as well as economic strains on Mali, prevented HSI from returning the artifacts to the country, resulting in over a decade passing between their discovery and eventual return. The Department of State provided a grant to fund the repatriation, the release said.

“We are proud to work with our colleagues at Homeland Security Investigations to return these important objects to the people of Mali,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Matthew Lussenhop, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the State Department.