On Monday Arrested Filipino Man for Illegal Possession of Ancient Coins in northern Greece

On Monday, Greek police announced the arrest of a 32-year-old Filipino man and one Greek 72 years old charged with antiquities smuggling.

Investigation of the Greek and Flipino  men home in a village in northern Greece revealed 1,061 ancient copper coins. Most date from the Hellenistic period – the third to first centuries BC – the Byzantine period – 330 AD to 1453 AD – and the Ottoman period – the 15th to the 19th centuries AD. Police said that the coins were seized on Sunday, along with 30 silver coins dating to the same periods, 16 copper rings, as well as precious jewels of the Byzantine and post-Byzantine eras.

Police also found 15 metal detectors, two binoculars and two gas masks  The confiscated antiquities were immediately examined by Greek archaeologists, who concluded that they fall under the jurisdiction of laws concerning the protection of antiquities and the cultural heritage of Greece.
The two men had been involved in similar activity in the past.They are  being accused of violation of cultural heritage law, as well as embezzlement.
Antiquity smuggling is a pervasive problem in Greece, particularly since the early years of the economic crisis. The Greek police make dozens of arrests per year in connection with the trade.