Approximately 11 million euros : this is the estimated value of the cultural assets recovered in 2024 by the Carabinieri of the Cultural Heritage Protection Unit of Cagliari, active throughout the Sardinian territory. A result resulting from intense control and prevention activities carried out in collaboration with the territorial force and other specialized departments that led to the reporting of 60 people to the judicial authorities.
During the year, 758 checks were carried out in marine and terrestrial archaeological areas , 464 checks in areas subject to landscape and monumental constraints , 185 inspections of commercial businesses in the sector and 33 inspections to verify the safety status of museums. In addition to these, there were 1,807 online checks on cultural goods put up for sale on digital platforms .
The activity led to the recovery of: 1,542 archaeological finds , of which 1,061 ancient coins; 2,070 antiquarian, archival and book assets; 838 paleontological finds; 10 properties located in areas protected by landscape restrictions. 60 people were reported to the judicial authorities, with crimes ranging from violation of the landscape (32 cases), to receiving stolen goods (24), to illegal export (11) and damage to cultural assets (6).
Among the most significant operations is the investigation “Sardegna Violata”, conducted throughout the island, particularly in the restricted coastal areas. The operation led to the denunciation at large of 32 people for landscape crimes.
Also important is the seizure of over 1,000 numismatic artefacts, illegally held by private individuals, discovered thanks to online checks and checks on private collections, carried out in collaboration with the Superintendencies of Cagliari and Sassari.
Finally, the Carabinieri recovered a 17th-century painting, The Presentation of Mary at the Temple by the painter Claudio Ridolfi, stolen in 2009 from a Piedmontese church and found while it was on sale in Germany for around 40,000 euros.
(Unioneonline/vf)
