The illicit trafficking of cultural property is largely an international process. It involves a range of activities, from the illegal acquisition of artefacts, smuggling across national borders, corruption, the process of 'laundering', legal or illegal importation and sale at the final destination. The aim of those involved in these trafficking networks is to transform the artefact from an illegally acquired commodity into an object for legal sale at the final destination. In this thesis, I discuss a number of international legal instruments relevant to the fight against cultural property trafficking. I also analyse the Middle East region in more detail, particularly the countries of Lebanon, Syria and Iraq. This region, along with these three countries, has been and continue to be heavily affected by the export of archaeological artefacts. In the past, sites were systematically plundered by colonial powers. The problem continues today, with sites and museums being looted by a variety of actors, including poorer local populations, organised criminal groups and various militias that fund their operations. Most of the looted artefacts end up in traditional destinations, such as the USA, UK, Switzerland, Belgium, but new destinations have also been established recently.
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