See the 1,000-year-old Iranian artifact Border Protection seized in Kentucky

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials in Kentucky made quite the discovery while inspecting a shipment from the United Kingdom, the office said in a news release.

Officers in Louisville discovered an antique amber glass bottle in a shipment headed for Colorado on May 19, the release said. The bottle was purported to be from the 9th or 10th centuries.

Border Protection contacted an expert who determined the bottle — which features a long, thin neck and ornate round base — was actually made in Iran sometime between the 11th and 13th centuries, according to the release.

Officials seized the bottle due to regulations by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) that prohibit goods or services from being imported from Iran, the release said.

The OFAC enforces trade and economic sanctions against groups and countries involved in narcotics, terrorism and other “disreputable activities,” according to Border Patrol.

“Indiscriminate vendors are often willing to overlook international safeguards that preserve the importance of keeping antiquities within their rightful community,” Assistant Area Port Director Eugene Matho said in the release. “Our officers are trained to recognize antiquities and ensure their safety and sanctity from illicit traders. CBP is proud to return this artifact and help restore the Iranian cultural heritage.”

Typically, OFAC will not allow merchandise from Burma (Myanmar), Cuba, Iran and most of Sudan into the country, according to the release.

This story was originally published June 7, 2020 at 12:55 PM with the headline "See the 1,000-year-old Iranian artifact Border Protection seized in Kentucky."