(VOVWORLD) -The Vietnam National Museum of History officially announced the repatriation of a bronze statue of Goddess Durga at a ceremony on Wednesday in Hanoi.
 Visitors admire the four-armed Goddess Durga bronze statue at the Vietnam National Museum of History (Photo: Ngoc Anh/VOV) |
The ancient statue of Vietnamese origin was seized during an antiquities trafficking investigation by the US Department of Justice, US Department of Homeland Security, and the London Metropolitan Police.
 Individuals who contributed to repatriating the ancient statue are honored at the ceremony. (Photo: Ngoc Anh/VOV) |
Its safe return on June 18, 2024 and subsequent preservation at the National Museum of History were made possible through the joint effort of authorities, the National Museum of History, sponsors Dao Danh Duc and Nguyen Ngoc Thuy, and British-owned Constantine Group.
 The four-armed Goddess Durga bronze statue (Photo: Ngoc Anh/VOV) |
Dr. Nguyen Van Doan, Director of Vietnam National Museum of History, said: “The ancient statue has been well-preserved. It is 191cm in length and 101kg in weight. This is a rare and valuable artifact with great cultural and artistic values, representing Champa’s 12th-century sculptural art.”
At the ceremony, US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Evans Knapper said the US is proud of its contribution to the repatriation of the bronze statue.