Egyptian authorities have arrested three men caught on camera selling pieces of the Giza pyramids to tourists. Undercover journalists from local website DotsMSR filmed the trio peddling portions of one of the Seven Wonders of the World for as little as £22, boasting of shifting them for up to £386.
According to The Cairo Post, Egyptian officials initially denied that some vendors sold pieces of the ancient stone to tourists. However, a Facebook post by Egypt's Ministry of Antiquities confirmed that those selling the bits of pyramid in the video had been arrested. The post read: “Tourism and Antiquities Police arrested the three persons who appeared on a widespread video showing them while selling pieces of the Pyramid’s rocks. Prosecution is handling the situation now and results will be published after the termination of investigations.”
Hussein Bassir, Director of Giza Plateau, told AhramOnline that the incidents in the video took place in an area by the Menakawre pyramid, which is not especially popular with tourists. He said that although there are always security personnel around the Giza Plateau, this cannot be the case everywhere as the area is vast. He alleged: “The blocks shown in the video are authentic, but have fallen from the pyramid complex across the span of time and have not been broken off by thieves.”
Mr Bassir also stated that the criminals were arrested and detained for four days on charges of vandalism, trading in antiquities, and fraud. He warned that the journalists involved may also face charges of owning and trading in stolen antiquities, as the pieces of the pyramids remain in their possession. “If they had handed over the blocks to the police immediately after receiving them, their situation may have been different,” he said.
