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Press Release

U.S. Attorney Announces Return To Mongolia Of Looted Dinosaur Fossils

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of New York
Alioramus Skull, Nest of Eggs and Various Skeletons Among Fossils Being Repatriated

This afternoon, Robert L. Capers, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, will host a repatriation ceremony at which the United States will return to Mongolia the fossilized remains of six species of dinosaur.  The fossils were unlawfully removed from Mongolia and seized by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in New York and Utah. 

The largest of these fossils, an Alioramus skull, was forfeited to the United States as a result of a civil forfeiture action handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.  The other fossils being returned at today’s ceremony were administratively forfeited by ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).   HSI Executive Associate Director of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Peter T. Edge and Mongolia’s Ambassador to the United States Altangerel Bulgaa will sign the ceremonial certificates transferring ownership of the fossils from the United States to Mongolia.  Mongolian paleontologist Dr. Bolortsetseg Minjin, and Director of the Institute for the Study of Mongolian Dinosaurs, will participate in the ceremony as a representative of the Mongolian Ministry of Education, Culture and Sciences.

“Mongolia is home to the world’s largest reserve of dinosaur fossils with many discoveries waiting to be made,” stated U.S. Attorney Capers.  “We are proud of our role in restoring this rich paleontological heritage to the Mongolian people and taking these cultural treasures from the hands of looters and smugglers. We stand beside the people of Mongolia by disrupting the international trade in smuggled fossils and returning them to their home where they will be studied and treasured.”

“Today’s ceremony is an excellent demonstration of the cooperation between HSI, our colleagues at the Department of Justice, and our foreign counterparts with the Government of Mongolia,” stated HSI Executive Associate Director Edge.  “A successful repatriation requires extensive cooperation among all parties involved, which is rewarded by the knowledge that we’ve returned what rightfully belongs to the people of Mongolia.”

“CBP is extremely proud to have played an important role in returning these valuable national treasures to the people of Mongolia,” said Robert E. Perez, Director of CBP’s New York Field Operations. “CBP’s cooperation with HSI and the United States Attorney’s Office for Eastern District of New York demonstrates the continuing resolve of law enforcement in the United States to address illegal trafficking in stolen artifacts.”

“Three years ago, we celebrated our first repatriation ceremony of the skeleton of a Tarbosaur-Bataar.  The T-Bataar case was a unique one in many aspects.  Most importantly, it has laid foundation of further strong and fruitful cooperation between our two governments in the fight against illegal trade of cultural heritages including fossils.  Thanks to this fruitful cooperation, 23 dinosaur fossils were repatriated to Mongolia during the last three years and now we are witnessing a repatriation of seven fossils including an Alioramus skull,” stated Ambassador Altangerel.  “I take this opportunity, on behalf of the Government and people of Mongolia, to express our profound gratitude for the hard work and dedication of American law enforcement agencies.  I have no doubt that these efforts will further strengthen of our bilateral ties, opening new opportunities and giving new impetus to our future cooperation.”

The Mongolian dinosaur fossils being returned at today’s repatriation ceremony include:

  • Alioramus skull
  • Bactrosaurus skeleton
  • Protoceratops baby skeleton pieces
  • Troodontid egg bed
  • Psittacosaurus skeleton and skull
  • Hadrosaurus skeleton pieces

The Alioramus was a dinosaur that lived in the late Cretaceous period, approximately 65 to 70 million years ago.  It is related to the Tyrannosaurus and Tarbosaurus.  The Alioramus skull was seized by CBP after being shipped from France with false declarations which suggested that it was an inexpensive replica, not a genuine fossil.  When the shipper petitioned for the Alioramus skull’s release, it conceded that it was a genuine Mongolian fossil but submitted forged Mongolian export documents.  Mongolian patrimony laws prohibit the export and foreign ownership of dinosaur fossils.

According to Dr. Bolortsetseg Minjin, the Alioramus is an extremely rare dinosaur; only two specimens have been reported in the scientific literature, and both are from Mongolia.  The Alioramus fossil being returned today is the most complete skull discovered to date.  Its relative completeness, color and overall state of preservation are typical of the Nemegt Formation, which is only exposed in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia.  In 2014, Mongolia nominated the Nemegt Formation and other fossil sites in the Gobi Desert for inclusion in the World Heritage List, citing the sites’ distinction as the largest dinosaur fossil reservoir in the world.

The government’s civil forfeiture action against the Alioramus skull was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Karin Orenstein.

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 14-CV-5198 (BMC)

Updated April 5, 2016