[MSN] MUNICH, Germany (AP) - Munich police said Wednesday they have seized a large collection of Aztec, Incan and Mayan cultural artifacts that Costa Rican authorities claim were illegally removed from their country.

[MSN]

German police seize Aztec, Incan art

MUNICH, Germany (AP) - Munich police said Wednesday they have seized a large
collection of Aztec, Incan and Mayan cultural artifacts that Costa Rican
authorities claim were illegally removed from their country.

Art theft specialists from Bavaria's criminal investigations office estimate
that the collection, which includes around 1,000 masks, necklaces and
statues, is worth some $100 million, said Ludwig Waldinger, a spokesman for
the office.

Waldinger said that Costa Rican authorities appealed to Germany last week to
help find it.

A 66-year-old art collector from Costa Rica who claims to have a right to
possess the art recently brought it from Latin America to Bavaria by way of
Spain.

The collector, whose identity has not been released, is not in custody, but
could face criminal charges if it is determined that he is not the
collection's rightful owner, Waldinger said.

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