Local News in Brief : Court Delays Return of Seized Artifacts
The government of Peru won a court order Friday delaying the return of 80 seized pre-Columbian artifacts to their owners, contending that the items were stolen from Peru and should be returned to that country.
Los Angeles U.S. District Judge Harry Hupp issued a temporary restraining order forcing the U.S. Customs Service to retain possession of the artifacts for up to one week, until another judge can decide the matter.
The artifacts were among 1,137 pieces seized by customs agents in a series of raids March 30 in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. Federal officials claimed that the pieces were illegally smuggled into the United States from Peru.
Most have been returned to the art dealers and collectors from whom they were seized. Some are being retained as evidence against David and Jacquelyn Swetnam, former Santa Barbara art dealers who have been indicted for smuggling.
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