US to return 4,000 archaeological items to Mexico

[October 25, 2012]  EL PASO, Texas (AP) -- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will return to the Mexican government more than 4,000 archaeological pieces seized at several locations across the United States by customs agents and investigators.

ICE spokeswoman Leticia Zamarripa says the cache of items mostly date from before the landings of European explorers on the North American continent. The lot includes pre-Columbian stones used to grind corn and other grains, statues, figurines, copper hatchets and other artifacts. They were seized in El Paso, Phoenix, Chicago, Denver, San Diego and San Antonio.

They'll be displayed during a ceremony Thursday at the Mexican consulate in El Paso. The ceremony will be attended by the Mexican Consul General Jacob Prado and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations officials.

[Associated Press]

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