Dramatic raid in the Jordan Valley: Thousands of antiquities seized in a private home
In a joint operation by the Civil Administration, Border Police, and the IDF, a suspect was caught attempting illegal excavations in the Jericho area. His field interrogation led to a dramatic raid on his home, where investigators were stunned to discover thousands of items, including coins from the Persian, Hellenistic, and Hasmonean periods.
A heavy blow to antiquities looters in Judea and Samaria. Thousands of archaeological items of great historical value were recently seized in a dramatic operation in the Jordan Valley. The operation, which began with a routine arrest in the field, ended in a widespread raid that uncovered an actual warehouse of antiquities inside a private home.
The incident began with a proactive operation led by the archaeology coordinators of the Civil Administration, together with inspectors from the Nature and Parks Authority, Border Police (Magav) fighters of Judea and Samaria, and IDF soldiers from the Jordan Valley Brigade. The forces, operating in the Jericho district against the phenomenon of antiquities looting, noticed a suspect who was conducting illegal excavations in the area.
The suspect was caught in possession of professional equipment including metal detectors and digging tools, along with several initial archaeological findings that he had already managed to extract from the ground. He was detained on the spot and immediately transferred for further investigation to the intelligence and investigations department of the archaeology unit.
During the investigation, it turned out that the suspect was operating in Area C with the goal of locating ancient coins and hidden treasures. Following intelligence information that developed from the investigation, it was decided to expand the operation. Archaeology unit investigators, backed by IDF soldiers from the 47th Battalion, raided the suspect's home and conducted a search.
Inside the house, thousands of period archaeological items were discovered, including findings from the Persian, Hellenistic, and Hasmonean periods. In addition to the numerous findings, other equipment used by the suspect was confiscated, including digging tools and metal detectors.
The suspect, along with the thousands of historical findings that were confiscated, were transferred for further handling and investigation to the archaeology unit of the Civil Administration. Law enforcement officials note that the successful operation constitutes a significant step in cutting off the chain of illegal trade in antiquities in Judea and Samaria, with the goal of preserving the historical heritage of the region from destruction and looting.
