NEW YORK - The US has returned nine stolen 18th-century paintings by Mexican artist Miguel Cabrera to the government of Peru.
Manhattan US Attorney Preet Bharara says the works were stolen from a church in Lima in 2008. He says they were smuggled out of Peru to be trafficked on the international art market.
Eight of the paintings were found at an auction house in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and turned over to the FBI. The best-known work, titled “Resurrection of Lazarus,” was found at an auction house in New York City.
The people who consigned them for auction relinquished the paintings when they were told they were stolen.
Bharara says the looters have not been brought to justice. - Sapa-AP