The FCS Russia press office reports in an official release. The headline reads: “FCS, FSB and police stopped a French national who stole museum coins worth RUB 53 million”.
Together with the FSB and the Interior Ministry, FCS Russia stopped a French national who had stolen gold coins of the Roman Empire and Napoleonic era from the state museum in Saint-Remi, valued at RUB 53 million.
Anthony Casteleyn, 29, a museum employee, used his position to smuggle exhibits into Russia, concealing coins in his wallet’s coin compartment among euro cents at Moscow customs, and sold them to dealers and collectors.
Following an Interpol notice, officers seized 79 items; 78 were confirmed as original cultural valuables and one was a copy.
FCS customs investigations opened a criminal case under Article 226.1(1) of the Criminal Code (large-scale smuggling of cultural valuables); investigative steps continue.
