19 people were arrested in simultaneous dawn raids in the UK and the Republic of Ireland yesterday in connection with a spate of heists that took place at venues across the UK last year.
The arrests were made as part of Operation Elven, the police investigation into the theft of oriental artefacts and rhino horn from institutions including the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, Norwich Castle Museum and Durham Oriental Museum, as well a private auction house.
Valued in excess of £20m, the items are thought to have been stolen to meet demand from collectors in the Far East. Some have since been recovered but several high-value items are still missing.
The Fitzwilliam Museum last year offered a substantial reward for information on the whereabouts of the 18 jade artefacts that were stolen from its permanent collection in April 2012.
Police believe the burglaries are linked to a single criminal gang, also held responsible for the widespread theft of rhino horn at venues across Europe in recent years.
The arrests took place across the UK, with five men and two women held in London, four held in Cambridgeshire, two in Essex and one in Belfast. Others were arrested in Nottingham and the West Midlands.
Two people were held in Cork and Limerick in the Republic of Ireland.
18 of those arrested are being held on conspiracy to commit burglary, while one woman is being held on suspicion of perverting the course of justice and assisting an offender.
Eight people have already been convicted for their role in the break-ins.
The arrests were made as part of Operation Elven, the police investigation into the theft of oriental artefacts and rhino horn from institutions including the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, Norwich Castle Museum and Durham Oriental Museum, as well a private auction house.
Valued in excess of £20m, the items are thought to have been stolen to meet demand from collectors in the Far East. Some have since been recovered but several high-value items are still missing.
The Fitzwilliam Museum last year offered a substantial reward for information on the whereabouts of the 18 jade artefacts that were stolen from its permanent collection in April 2012.
Police believe the burglaries are linked to a single criminal gang, also held responsible for the widespread theft of rhino horn at venues across Europe in recent years.
The arrests took place across the UK, with five men and two women held in London, four held in Cambridgeshire, two in Essex and one in Belfast. Others were arrested in Nottingham and the West Midlands.
Two people were held in Cork and Limerick in the Republic of Ireland.
18 of those arrested are being held on conspiracy to commit burglary, while one woman is being held on suspicion of perverting the course of justice and assisting an offender.
Eight people have already been convicted for their role in the break-ins.
