(Panama Digest) U.S. customs officials repatriated 99 pre-Columbian artifacts to Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli after an investigation that has lasted over a decade.
The artifacts, mostly vessels from the 1st to the 15th century and valued at $100,000, were returned by a Portland, Oregon university professor in 2005 as part of a plea deal. He had originally smuggled the pieces out of Panama with the help of a Panama Canal Commission employee in 1998, and both faced charges.
“The number 99 has a special connotation for me,” Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli said at the repatriation, explaining that his business is the Super 99 grocery store chain and that he is known as Mr. 99.
“I am sure that there is no relations between this and the artifacts,” he joked.