Two thieves wearing diving suits stole hundreds of ancient Greek and Roman artifacts from the Egyptian seabed, the interior ministry said.
Egyptian authorities said the men, one of whom had a criminal record, searched the seabed of Aboukir Bay, not far from Alexandria on the Mediterranean coast.
The looters stole 448 items, including 305 coins, 53 statues, 41 axes, 20 bronze utensils, 14 bronze cups, 12 spears and three statue heads, the ministry said, including photos of ancient jewelry. he said in a Facebook post.
Authorities said the men admitted they intended to traffick the items, which date back to Greco-Roman times between 2,500 and 1,600 years ago.
The coins have intricate carvings and depict things like turtles, whales, elephants, and crossbows.
Most of the loot has taken on a rich turquoise hue due to oxidation from centuries of exposure to seawater.
