Israeli tax and antiquities authorities learned of the sale only after US investigators uncovered details of it while looking into purchases made by the US-based arts-and-crafts retailer Hobby Lobby. A sculpted clay head seized in the raids of the antiquities dealers' homes and businesses. The dealers who allegedly sold the artifacts were authorized Israeli dealers, but they falsified invoices and receipts, said Dr. Eitan Klein from the Israel Antiquities Authority's department for preventing antiquities theft. In early July, Hobby Lobby agreed to forfeit the artifacts and pay a $3 million fine to resolve a civil action brought by the Justice Department, according to court documents. Hobby Lobby said it has cooperated with the investigation.

Source: CNN August 01, 2017 15:45 UTC