Story perspectives

President Prabowo Receives Smuggled Papua Artifacts from FBI

7/24/2026

Summary

Story summary

On July 22, 2026, President Prabowo Subianto received Papua artifacts from FBI Director Kash Patel in Jakarta.
Research proved axe heads, objects from Dani, Asmat and Sentani tribes were illegally smuggled to United States.
The artifacts will be displayed at the National Museum of Indonesia for public study.
It followed a July 10 return of two Buddhist statues delivered by U.S. authorities, statues surrendered by a collector linked to Douglas Latchford.

History

Historical Context

The UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Cultural Property, signed 14 November 1970 and effective 24 April 1972, grew from post-World War II decolonization and U.S. support for heritage protection. With 147 states party, it obliges signatories to prevent looting and return stolen items—obligations that shape today’s disputes over smuggled artifacts involving Indonesia.

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Story summary

On July 22, 2026, President Prabowo Subianto received Papua artifacts from FBI Director Kash Patel in Jakarta.
Research proved axe heads, objects from Dani, Asmat and Sentani tribes were illegally smuggled to United States.
The artifacts will be displayed at the National Museum of Indonesia for public study.
It followed a July 10 return of two Buddhist statues delivered by U.S. authorities, statues surrendered by a collector linked to Douglas Latchford.

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