A gang, which operates locally, is being investigated by the Guardia Civil in connection with the illegal sale of coins and archeological artifacts worth more than half a million euros.
During the operation four houses in Calasparra, Abraran and Cadiz were raided and one person was caught red handed stealing from an archeological site in Calasparra.
Since August last year the Guardia Civil have investigated 43 people involved in the theft and sale of objects, which form part of the National Historic Heritage.
During the investigation, which remains open, antique coins, numerous archeological artifacts, metal detectors and tools for excavation have been discovered.
The operation, called “The Plan for the Defence of the National Historic Heritage,”
has found many such items for sale via the Internet.
In March this year four properties in Calasparra and Abraran were raided and around 20,000 metal pieces of archeological origin recovered. Important documentation also found during the raids has enabled the Guardia Civil to carry out the second phase of the operation: raiding more properties in Calasparra, Abaran and Cadiz.
Objects recovered during the investigation include 11,466 antique coins; 15,000 metal objects of archeological origin including the tips of Phoenician, Roman and Islamic arrows; and fragments of pottery and crystal.
In the four properties raided officers found small workshop for cleaning archeological metal.
The Guardia Civil estimate that sales on the black market through the Internet have netted the gang some half a million euros with 80% of the pieces sold forming part of the Spanish National Heritage.
