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“These are not just pieces of 7marble and 8limestone and frescoes. These represent our shared 9cultural heritage that in one respect they belong to the world but legally for my purposes they belong to the country of origin from which they were 10pillaged.”

The New York Unit has carried out 75 raids and recovered 500 artifacts worth 55 million dollars that have been returned to Italy, Bogdanos told us.

“But their real value is their place in Italy’s rich cultural identity,” Carabinieri Cultural Heritage Squad Commander Vincenzo Molinese says. Many of these pieces that were in museums and private galleries end up in storage facilities once back in Italy.

“The artifacts have to, deserve to, must go back to their home country. That’s 11fundamental. Even if they’re not the most important pieces compared to the, let’s say the rich collections that exist in Italy, the point is they were robbed from this country. They deserve to go back to their home country.”

There may be cause for celebration now, but these pieces represent only 12a drop in the bucket. Authorities say that more pieces are being stolen every moment.