91Â鶹¹ú²ú¾«Æ·×ÔÅÄ

The fossils, initially confiscated by the Chilean National Customs Service and subsequently handed over to the National Monuments Council, underwent expert analysis to confirm their identification. Following this process, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was notified, and the results were communicated to the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Chile.

The Deputy Director of the National Customs Service, José Luis Castro, commended the dedication of the inspectors at San Antonio Port and Santiago Airport, who identified the heritage value of the cargo they were inspecting. Their alertness, combined with inter-institutional cooperation, enabled the recovery of the cultural properties. Historically, Chilean Customs has been primarily associated with tax collection, but today its mission extends far beyond this. Customs officials work to secure borders, prevent the entry of illicit substances and goods, and safeguard cultural property from illicit trafficking, ensuring the protection of items of immense value to their countries of origin.

Nélida Pozo Kudo, Director of the National Cultural Heritage Service, expressed her satisfaction with the collaboration between public agencies that made this significant act of justice and restitution possible. During the expert analysis and diplomatic consultations, the fossils were kept under appropriate conservation measures at the Paleontology Deposit of the National Monuments Council’s Natural Heritage area.

The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco in Chile, Kenza El Ghali, expressed her gratitude for the cooperation between both States.

The return of these cultural properties highlights the critical role of international cooperation and reflects the shared commitment of Chile and Morocco to protecting cultural heritage and combating illicit trafficking.