WASHINGTON — Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Executive Associate Director (EAD) Katrina W. Berger joined dignitaries and officials July 22 at a repatriation ceremony held at the Guatemalan Embassy to return significant cultural artifacts to the people of Guatemala.
This repatriation, graciously hosted by Deputy Chief of Mission Viviana Arenas, contained 54 stone tools and terracotta artifacts which have been determined to be part of Guatemala’s cultural heritage.
“This ceremony underscores our invaluable partnership in combating the trafficking of cultural property,” said EAD Berger. “We are excited for the opportunity to return these embodiments of your cultural heritage to the government of Guatemala, and thereby to the people of Guatemala.”
HSI, a division of the Department of Homeland Security, is dedicated to investigating a broad range of criminal activities, including the illegal movement of cultural property. Federal laws empower HSI to lead investigations into the illicit importation, exportation and distribution of cultural artifacts.
The returned artifacts stem from two investigations led by HSI offices in New Mexico, Utah and Missouri. The first case involved the seizure of several hundred items, including 30 artifacts from Guatemala, from a known seller and importer of illicitly obtained Central and South American artifacts. The second case began with a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seizure of 24 suspicious stone items in a traveler’s luggage, later identified as culturally significant Mesoamerican pieces.
“These objects tell stories about your past, your history, and make us curious about the people who made and used them,” said EAD Berger. “One thing is for sure, they had no idea their possessions would be the center of a ceremony centuries later.”
HSI’s cultural repatriation efforts to Guatemala began over a decade ago and continue to this day. The enduring partnership and commitment of the Guatemalan government have been crucial to the success of these efforts.
EAD Berger thanked the HSI agents involved in the investigations and acknowledged the contributions they made in facilitating the repatriation process.
“This repatriation is another example of our commitment to the greater-government efforts supported by HSI, CBP, and the Cultural Heritage Coordinating Committee,” EAD Berger emphasized. “Together, we ensure these priceless pieces of history and culture are returned to their rightful homes, and their stories are shared for generations to come.”
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About HSI
HSI is the principal investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel and finance move. HSI’s workforce consists of over 10,000 employees, assigned to 235 offices within the United States and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI's international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.