US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) returned 14 stolen and looted cultural paintings and artifacts to the government of Peru at a repatriation ceremony at the Embassy of Peru in Washington, DC Returned to the Peruvian people were nine religious paintings, a monstrance and four archaeological items that date back more than 2000 years. The return of this cultural property is the culmination of a long, hard fight by the Government of Peru, HSI, INTERPOL and the US Attorney's Offices from the District of Delaware, the Southern District of New York, and the Southern District of Texas. "The plundering of cultural property is one of the oldest forms of organized cross-border crime and has become a world-wide phenomenon that transcends frontiers," said ICE Director John Morton. "The teamwork and cooperation that exists between ICE Homeland Security Investigations and our partners in the global law enforcement community and intelligence world made it possible for us to secure these cultural artifacts and to ensure that they are returned to the government of Peru." "These recovered pieces of art are part of our cultural heritage as a nation, but in fact, belongs to all humanity, said Ambassador Harold Forsyth. "Thanks to the professional work of the specialized agencies of the United States, and the commitment of both governments to prosecute, punish and eradicate trafficking in cultural property, we can say now that this successful operation has become an example of ...