Swiss customs authorities announced Tuesday that a Japanese samurai sword, or “katana”, about 700 years old and worth more than $700,000, was smuggled into Switzerland.
And the facts took place in the Zurich region in the north of the country. The sword, which dates back to 1353, was found in a vehicle registered in Switzerland.
The Federal Customs and Border Security Office said the driver of the car, who was traveling with his daughter, did not report the unusual piece when he entered Switzerland via the Taingen border crossing near Germany.
At the end of the investigation conducted by customs, “it turned out that the driver of the car was not the owner of the sword”, but that he was working for the real owner. The latter had instructed the driver to bring the sword from the German city of Stuttgart and take it to his home in Switzerland.
Although the katana was brought to Switzerland at the request of its owner, the latter had to declare it to customs, as ancient Japanese swords are considered “cultural property” under the Cultural Property Transfer Act.
This law aims to protect the cultural heritage of humanity and prevent theft, pillage, export and illegal import of cultural property in Switzerland. At the end of the investigation, the Federal Customs Office had charged approximately 54,000 Swiss francs ($56,000) in value-added tax, while simultaneously issuing an indictment against the motorist for violating the VAT law.
The fine for violators of this law is 800,000 francs ($833,000).
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