Spain: three divers caught stealing and smuggling!

Three divers from the Netherlands have been arrested by Spanish police on the Costa Brava. They are facing charges of theft, smuggling and crimes against national heritage. Their loot was said to be an amphora dating back to antiquity.

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The men, aged between 46 and 49, were detained by local police as they attempted to retrieve the artefact aboard their boat. Spanish uniformed officers characterised the detainees as aware of the crime they were committing and well prepared for it. The robbers had, among other things, a device for checking the bottom.

The stoppage took place on the coast of Cap de Creus. This is a region where at least seven ships from the time of the Roman Empire are known to have sunk in the area.

The researchers managed to establish that the recovered amphora was used to transport wine and came from the Naples area. However, the value of the object that the three Dutchmen were trying to steal has not yet been established. This is an important issue as it will have a significant impact on the sentence the apprehended men will receive.

According to a spokesman for the Spanish police, they face between 1 and 3 years in prison for the crimes described above.

Source: duiken.nl