Price of Artifacts Smuggled Out of Pakistan

An artifact smuggler working out of Pakistan stated that he is able to sell a Buddha statue weighing between 40 to 80 kilograms for $20,000 on the global black market.

While digging, the smuggler says that he pays the local police station a bribe of $106 (10,000 Pakistani Rupees) as an advance, and $10.62 (1,000 Rupees) for each day of digging.

(More on stolen Buddhist and religious artifact theft.)

Source:  AFP, “Millionaires unveil Pakistan’s artefact smuggling secrets,” DAWN, August 9, 2012.