Using real as fake: new methods for art smuggling

Here's a little story that will probably make you laugh tonight.
It's a story of a fearless man, who succeeded to illegally transfer exceptional pieces of art out of Egypt, using a quite suprising method. Indeed, Jonathan Tokeley-Parry, an art restorer and Cambridge graduate, didn't suffer from a lack of imagination: this is the scheme he invented to perpetrate his crimes for several years

Step 1: Buy a lot of ancient Egyptian artefacts on the local black market, most of all rare pieces of art, including statues of mythologic figures and pharaohs
Step 2: Return to your hotel room, making sure no one knows what you're about to do
Step 3:In order to disguise the artefact into a random reproduction or even a touristic "souvenir", coat it into melted plastic and paint over the original piece of art
Step 4: Stick a "Made in Egypt" sticker at the back (what's wrong with him??)
Step 5: Put it in your suitcase, and go back to England. Light-hearted.
Step 123620: Become part of an illegal trade network and sell the pieces for 1,2 million dollars

In total, he did this with 3000 pieces of art during several years in the 90's. He was eventually found and then sent to jail in 1997, for 3 years (instead of 15 he could be sentenced to in Egypt). Later, he changed his name and published a book he humbly titled "Rescuing the Past".

You will find more information about this fascinating story here.
Photo Credits: JANE MINGAY, The Telegraph.