Artifact collectors have been arrested with ancient artifacts that are invaluable. The Crime Suppression Department, The Fine Arts Department, and related officials arrested artifact collectors who were selling the items through Facebook. Over 1,000 items were found and seized to be used as evidence in the cases. Police Lieutenant General along with related officials reported the arrests on 4 September 2023. Tossaporn 26 years old and Tossapon 19 years old were arrested in Ratchaburi Province. Another suspect, Srion 46 years old was arrested in Phayao Province.
All were arrested with related charges to collecting artifacts that no one can claim ownership. Distribution of the artifacts, and more. Evidence includes 11 metal detectors, equipment used to dig, 970 ancient artifacts, and 4 bank books. Police received information about a group of artifact lovers about a Facebook page that has been hunting for artifacts. They have been illegally collecting these artifacts and selling them online through Facebook. Officials found the Facebook account showing pictures of them digging for the artifacts along with sale posts.
Police contacted the account asking to purchase some artifacts. After receiving the products officials sent it to the Fine Arts Department. Results show that one of the artifacts is a cow figure estimated to be 1,600 years old and the other is an elephant figure estimated to be made between 1458-1558 BC. Tossaporn and Tossapon are brothers who find and sell artifacts. On the Facebook page police noticed that there were other people in the pictures of when the brother went artifact hunting. Police have requested for search warrants from the court as there are 9 locations in Chiang Mai, Lampang, and Sukhothai that they suspect is used to hide more artifacts. It appears the suspects make about 200,000 THB per month and have had over 10 million THB circulating funds in the past 3 years.
FB Caption: The suspects have over 1,000 artifacts waiting to sell.
Source: Khaosod
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