The Smuggling of Art, and the Art of Smuggling: Uncovering the Illicit Trade in Cultural Property and Antiques

All countries impose restrictions on the export of various classes of cultural property and antiques, ranging from archeological objects, to coins, to older art works. Hence, their sale abroad often requires their illegal export from the country of origin. As with other activities of questionable legality, however, it has been difficult to put a precise figure on the full extent of trafficking in cultural goods— estimates of the illegal trade in cultural objects range from $300 million to $6 billion per year (Roger Atwood 2004). Collectively, these illicit activities represent the darker side of globalization. Smuggling requires extra legal activities that may abet corruption, impose a strain on international relations, and potentially dampen the gains from legitimate international trade. Unfortunately, we have little systematic knowledge of the dynamics of illicit trade, as data on illegal activities are, by their very nature, difficult to obtain.