Iraqi security forces thwarted an attempt to smuggle 80 ancient artifacts in the central province of Babil on Wednesday, according to state media reports. Two suspects were arrested in connection with the incident.

A joint security team in Babil province apprehended the two individuals during a carefully planned ambush on the international highway in the southern part of the province, an interior ministry statement revealed. The seized artifacts, varying in size and shape, are currently under examination to verify their authenticity and historical significance.

Iraq has long battled the looting and trafficking of its cultural heritage, a problem that intensified after the U.S. invasion in 2003 and worsened during periods of instability, most notably with the rise of ISIS in 2014.

In recent years, Iraq has intensified its efforts to recover stolen artifacts. In March 2022, the country re-opened its national museum in Baghdad, showcasing artifacts recovered from countries such as the United States, Netherlands, Japan, Italy, and Lebanon. Additionally, in May 2022, Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid oversaw the return of more than 6,000 antiquities from Britain during a visit to London. Since 2019, the Iraqi government has successfully repatriated over 34,000 stolen artifacts from around the world.