PROGRAMS
Cultural Property Crimes Program
The annual dollar value of art and cultural property theft is exceeded only by the trafficking in illicit narcotics and arms. The illegal trade of works of art and cultural property is as dangerous as these crimes. The criminal networks that traffic in the illicit sale of Works of Art and Cultural Property are often times the same circles that deal in illegal drug, arms dealing, and other illegal transactions. It has also been found recently that many insurgent and terrorist groups fund their operations through the sales and trade of stolen Works of Art and Cultural Property.
To assist in this unique international effort, the USNCB gathers cultural property statistics and routinely forwards cultural property information to various local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. In addition, the USNCB provides Cultural Property Theft Reports received from U.S. law enforcement agencies to the INTERPOL Secretariat General so that an International Cultural Property Theft Notice can be issued. With the issuance of an official International Cultural Property Theft Notice, it becomes more difficult to pass legal title on a stolen item, making it harder to trade. The notice issued by INTERPOL is the only legally enforceable notice of its kind. The USNCB actively participates in the coordination of these international cases involving illicit art and antiquities, and treats the perpetrators as seriously as the perpetrators of other crimes.
The USNCB Cultural Property Crimes Program works with these agencies to track and seek out the return of stolen works of art and cultural property:
- INTERPOL Secretariat General - Property Crimes, Works of Art
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) - Art Theft Program
- U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs- Cultural Heritage Center
- Los Angeles Police Department - Art Theft Detail
- UNESCO - Movable Heritage and Museums
- International Council of Museums
Since 1947, INTERPOL has disseminated information pertaining to the theft of cultural property and works of art. INTERPOL has focused its efforts by publishing and distributing of international stolen property notices. The Secretariat General of INTERPOL publishes a special, quarterly bulletin entitled "The Stolen Works of Art Database" to this extent. This bulletin is available, via subscription, to the general public. To subscribe and receive the Stolen Works of Art Database, please click here.
To view the list of the most recently reported stolen cultural property notices, please click here.