THREE people were yesterday remanded in custody for six days, after they were arrested for illegal possession and trade of antiquities.

Two of the men, a 39-year-old from Larnaca and a 38-year-old from Paphos, were arrested in the Ypsonas area of Limassol on Wednesday afternoon after their car was stopped by the Drug Squad (YKAN).

Although no drugs were found in the car, no less than 22 ancient vases and a pair of ancient earrings were discovered in another car parked at a factory nearby.
YKAN had placed the boat-making factory under surveillance since they had reason to believe that drugs had been stored there.

An archaeologist who examined the artefacts dated them to around 700BC.
The third man, a 29-year-old from Limassol who was employed at the factory, was also arrested. Police believe he had met the other two earlier in conjunction with the antiquities theft.

The Paphos man, a theologian by trade, told police that the artefacts were given to him by the man from Larnaca.

However, the latter, who is an oil painter, and the man from Limassol have denied any involvement in the case.