It is a one-off and unique and therefore has immeasurable cultural value.
A 15th-century porcelain vase, stolen in a sophisticated burglary last year and worth £2.5 million, has been recovered by Metropolitan Police.
The antique, which dates back to Chinese Ming Dynasty, was taken from a collection in Switzerland by a London-based crime group. Specialist authorities have now arrested two men, 42 and 44, in Mayfair, London in connection to the crime. Though the men were arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods, they have since been bailed to a date in mid-November.
The vase was found during a raid in Charlton, south east London, and as part of an investigation into counterfeit currency. Class A drugs and two suspected Tasers were also found at the scene
Detective Chief Inspector Jimi Tele said, “This is a significant step forward in what remains a complex investigation into a high-value burglary. Whilst this vase is valued at around £2.5 million, it is a one-off and unique and therefore has immeasurable cultural value. It will be repatriated in due course.”
“The organised crime group at the centre of this investigation is also suspected of involvement in serious violence, so to arrest two suspected members safely is excellent. Bearing down on serious crime and violence remains the Met’s top priority, and we will continue to disrupt the workings of organised crime whose members think they are out of reach of the law.”
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