Arrest of a 'Treasure Hunting Gang' in Mashhad While Digging an '18-Meter Tunnel' in an Old Garden Hall

Police officers from the Ferdowsi police station in Mashhad arrested members of a 'treasure hunting gang' while they were digging an 18-meter underground tunnel in an old garden hall in search of treasure. According to the Khorasan newspaper, sellers of treasure detection devices had promised the 15-member gang that there was a valuable treasure located 25 meters underground. The Mashhad police claimed that these individuals, equipped with metal detection devices and tunnel digging tools, had managed to dig multiple channels along with ventilation systems in the area of this old garden hall. The report further stated that upon the arrival of law enforcement forces, several gang members fled. However, five suspects were apprehended. It was also revealed that three members of the gang had hidden inside the underground tunnels after the ventilation systems were cut off. These individuals, having reached the brink of suffocation due to a lack of oxygen, struggled to reach the tunnel's entrance. Previously, Reza Mehrafarin, an archaeologist and university lecturer, spoke about the lack of legal oversight and the increase in the smuggling of historical artifacts, stating that the economic situation, unemployed youth, and 'a wide range of physically active young people who have the ability to search for treasure for hours in deserts and mountains' have made it easy for illegal excavations to occur with advanced technology in 'broad daylight.' Mehrafarin added that 'currently, we easily see pages for buying and selling metal detectors and magnetometers, as well as consultations and training for treasure hunting on social media, which are accessible to everyone,' warning that 'the administrators of these pages continue their activities without any fear or concern from legal authorities.' Abdolreza Mohajerinejad, another archaeologist, also stated in an interview with ILNA news agency that 'while there is not a single hill or archaeological site that remains undamaged in the country, there is also no clear judicial process in dealing with smugglers and illegal excavators.' He commented on the government's negligence regarding illegal excavations, saying that 'since the site was not registered, there has been no accompanying punishment, while perhaps only 20% of archaeological assessments have been conducted on historical sites and hills across Iran, and due to a lack of funding and other existing problems, many structures remain unregistered.' Reports of illegal excavations in the year 1403 indicate a growing trend in the smuggling of the country's ancient artifacts. Destruction of historical artifacts: 'Cracks' in historical buildings in 'Kashmar' due to earthquakes; construction by people in the ancient area of 'Kolandi' in Chahbahar. Warning from two archaeologists about the increase in illegal excavations and smuggling of ancient artifacts in broad daylight. Government negligence towards historical and national artifacts in Iran; the crown of the relief of Bahram II of the Sassanid dynasty was destroyed.