In a strange incident, Egyptian security forces discovered a large archaeological museum inside a workshop owned by a worker in the Faiyum Governorate, southwest of Cairo. The Egyptian Ministry of Interior announced that it received information indicating that the owner of a workshop in Faiyum city was trading in antiquities and possessed numerous significant archaeological items, and was attempting to sell them.
The ministry stated that the information was confirmed, and an immediate raid was conducted at the workshop where the owner and another individual were present. They found what resembled an archaeological museum, including a metal plate surrounded by a wooden frame, an ancient manuscript, a decorated wooden box, and three pieces of linen fabric with ancient writings, along with paintings and a wooden icon inlaid with ivory featuring ancient drawings.
The ministry added that the suspects had in their possession a book with a metallic cover inscribed with writings in several languages, two round wooden pieces engraved with Latin symbols, a metal chain, seven leather pages with historical writings and inscriptions, and 85 coins of various shapes and sizes dating back to the Roman era.
The Egyptian Ministry of Interior revealed that upon presenting the seized items to the relevant authorities, it was confirmed that all the seized pieces were indeed archaeological. One item dated back to the Roman era, while the rest belonged to the 14th, 16th, 17th, 19th, and 20th centuries AD. The suspects admitted during interrogation to possessing the seized archaeological items for the purpose of trade. Legal actions were initiated, and the public prosecution took over the investigation.
