Dutch authorities have arrested three men in connection with the theft of ancient artifacts on loan from Romania.
The stolen treasures, which include unique gold and silver items, have not yet been recovered, the Drents Museum confirmed. The arrests followed a four-day investigation, according to AFP.
The heist occurred early last Saturday morning at the Drents Museum in Assen, northeastern Netherlands. To gain entry, the thieves used explosives. They made off with three Dacian spiral bracelets and an elaborately crafted Cotofenesti helmet, believed to be nearly 2,500 years old.
The artifacts were part of a temporary exhibition showcasing nearly 650 Dacian relics, loaned from 18 Romanian museums. Some of the items date back more than 2,000 years BCE.
The stolen pieces had been loaned by Romania’s National History Museum in Bucharest. The theft led to the dismissal of the museum’s director, Ernest Oberländer-Târnoveanu. Romanian Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu emphasized the cultural and symbolic significance of the treasures, stating that their loss has deeply saddened the nation.
