The ceremony was attended by Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK Nguyen Hoang Long, United States Special Agent JP Labbat, US Special Agent Robert Mancene of Homeland Security Investigations (HIS), Tim Hemker, HSI representative of the US Embassy in the UK, along with UK detective Sophie Hayes.
According to the official website of the US’ Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s mission (ICE), the US filed and settled a civil forfeiture action against US$12 million derived from the sale of stolen Southeast Asian antiquities by UK indicted antiquities dealer Douglas Latchford.
“The settlement with Latchford’s estate, who died in 2020, resolves claims that he transferred proceeds from the sale of stolen antiquities to bank accounts in the Bailiwick of Jersey. As part of the settlement, Latchford’s estate has also agreed to the forfeiture of a seventh century bronze statue depicting the four-armed goddess Durga, which is alleged to have been stolen from Vietnam in 2008 and which Latchford allegedly purchased using tainted funds,” said the website.
It added that in both 2008 and 2009 Latchford used funds derived from the sale of stolen and smuggled antiquities to purchase the four-armed goddess Durga.
Relevant documents show Latchford traveled to Vietnam in November 2008 to get the piece and instructed his bankers to send around US$2 million to the bank account of a person with a Vietnamese email address.
Three months later, he then emailed a dealer a photograph of the statue lying on its back, covered in what appears to be dirt and minerals indicative of a recent excavation.
The four-armed goddess Durga statue, about 2m in length and 250kg in weight, was recognised by UNESCO as world heritage, and was stolen from the My Son Sanctuary in Vietnam’s central province of Quang Nam in 2008.
“Latchford identified My Son — a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage site located in Vietnam — as the location where the Durga statue was recovered,” the website stressed.
“Under the settlement, Latchford’s daughter consented to forfeit the US$12 million and the Durga statue,” it added.
Immediately after receiving information from the Vietnamese Embassy in the US, the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK contacted British authorities regarding the statue.
On August 8, it worked alongside the London police to discuss procedures in an attempt to return the bronze statue back to Vietnam.
On August 16, the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK worked alongside representatives of the statue’s current owner, storage and transportation companies, along with archaeological experts to work out a plan on sending the piece to its home country.
At the handover ceremony, Ambassador Long thanked HSI and the London Police for their support. He emphasised that the return of the statue took place on a special occasion when Vietnam and the UK are celebrating 50 years of their diplomatic ties this year. In addition, he said Vietnam and the US have just upgraded ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace, Cooperation, and Sustainable Development.
“The event will contribute to deepening the relationship between the parties,” he stressed.
An Ancient Pagoda in the World Heritage Site of Trang An
Though the Tam Coc grotto is more popular than Bich Dong in NinhBinh province, about 120km to the south of Hanoi, the latter is still visit-worthy and in fact, still a favourite destination among tourists.
German firm hands over cleaned relic site to Hue
NDO/VNA – A ceremony was held in Hue city, the central province of Thua Thien-Hue to hand over a project to clean the Noon Gate – the southern main gateway of Hue former imperial city, which is sponsored by Germany’s Karcher Group, to the Hue Monument Conservation Centre.
Halong Bay (Ha Long Bay)
Halong Bay is a beautiful natural wonder in northern Vietnam near the Chinese border. The Bay is dotted with 1,600 limestone islands and islets and covers an area of over 1,500 sqkm. This extraordinary area was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. For many tourists, this place is like something right out of a movie. The fact is that Halong Bay features a wide range of biodiversity, while the surrealistic scenery has indeed featured in endless movies. The best way to get to Halong City is by car, minibus or bus from Hanoi which is only 170km away. If budget is not a problem, an hour-long helicopter transfer is also available.
Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park attracts tourists
Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, 500 km south of Hanoi, is one of the jewels of Quang Binh province. Recognized by UNESCO as a world natural heritage, the park straddles an imposing forested mountain range and some of the world’s most extraordinary caves.
Balancing tourism development with natural heritage protection
As a world heritage site and natural wonder, Ha Long Bay plays an important role in turning the northeastern province of Quang Ninh into a modern service and industrial hub and an international tourist center, Pham Hong Ha, Chairman of the Ha Long City People’s Committee and Head of the Ha Long Bay Management Board, told Vietnam Economic News’ Hoa Quynh.
