site.btaRecovered Romanian Gold Treasure to Be Returned under Maximum Security

The Romanian gold treasure recovered after being stolen in the Netherlands will be returned to the country under maximum security, local media outlets reported. Its transport will be carried out using specialized vehicles under strict supervision by Romanian authorities and the gendarmerie to eliminate any security risks.

Immediately after the return to Bucharest of the 2,500-year-old golden helmet from Cotofenesti and the two Dacian gold bracelets - stolen a year ago from the Drents Museum in the eastern Dutch city of Assen - experts will conduct a detailed assessment of their condition to determine what restoration work is needed.

The bracelets are intact and show no mechanical deformation. The helmet must be examined very carefully, as it was dropped. It fell from the thief’s hand when it was taken out of the display case, Ernest Oberlander-Tarnoveanu, former director of the National History Museum of Romania, said in an interview for the website HotNews.

On Thursday, Dutch authorities announced at a press conference at the Drents Museum that the stolen items had been recovered through the suspects' lawyers, who cooperated with investigators in order to reach several agreements during the investigation. The third Dacian bracelet, which is still missing, could theoretically be used as a bargaining chip by the suspects, according to criminal law experts cited by Digi24.

The three suspects are scheduled to appear before the court in Assen on April 14, 16, and 17.