Italian police on Friday arrested 18 people in Campania and Lazio after recovering 1,500 ancient artefacts looted from major archaeological sites in Campania, judicial sources said.
Those arrested were part of an international gang that dug up and trafficked precious objects, police said.
The total value of the recovered objects is estimated at 2.5 million euros.
Two of the objects were amphorae dating to the 2nd century A.D., attributed to the ancient Greek painter Assteas and stolen from Paestum, which alone are estimated to be worth 1.5 million euros.
The arrests were made in the provinces of Caserta, Naples, Salerno, Frosinone and Latina.
Three of the arrested were jailed: alleged ring leader Rocco Verrengia, 58, and alleged professional stolen goods dealers Angelo Valente, 32, and Benedetto D'Aniello, 67.
The other fifteen arrested, all alleged to be artefact looters, were placed under house arrest.
A total of 43 people were under investigation in the operation.
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