Police have arrested a painter in Cairo accused of illegal possession of Pharaonic antiquities.
Investigators say the suspect was given the artifacts by an unknown person and then offered to sell them for LE700,000.
Zeitoun Police Station detectives had been informed that the suspect had regularly attended to a local coffee shop located in Zeitoun and was in possession of a statue and a coffin.
Security forces managed to arrest him after he was ambushed at the coffee shop.
Investigators say after searching the suspect's car, a mummy and two other statues with Pharaonic inscriptions were found.
The suspect allegedly confessed he had bought the items for LE20,000.
Egypt has criminalized the illegal and unauthorized trade of Egyptian antiquities since 1983.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
