The Criminal Organization of the Transnational Trade in Cultural Objects: Two Case Studies

Brodie, N. (2019), ‘The Criminal Organization of the Transnational Trade in Cultural Objects: Two Case Studies’, in S. Hufnagel and D. Chappell (eds.), The Palgrave Handbook on Art Crime. London: Routledge, 439–461.

This chapter looks at the criminal organization of the transnational trade in antiquities and other cultural objects. It presents comprehensive analyses of two trading networks, paying critical attention to the nature of data sources. First it examines the actions of Subhash Kapoor, a New York-based dealer of Asian art, who was arrested in 2011 on charges related to trafficking cultural objects. Second, it assembles evidence of trading out of Dubai. The chapter concludes by highlighting the role of criminal entrepreneurship in sustaining the trade. It also suggests the importance of brokerage across frontiers for protecting consumers in the destination market from accusations of knowingly acquiring illicitly traded material.

Available at: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057/978-1-137-54405-6_21