Overview
- Police recovered the collection in a raid in Lince after detecting a social‑media listing and detained 52‑year‑old José Antonio Melgarejo Valdivia.
- The Ministry of Culture said specialists from its Dirección General de Museos verified the 33 items as authentic as part of an identification and archaeological valuation process.
- The lot includes 29 ceramic objects such as plates, vessels and sculpted jars representing multiple pre‑Hispanic styles and four Inca stone tools consisting of two porras, an axe head and a boleadora.
- Authorities stressed Peruvian rules allow private possession in cases like inheritance but forbid the sale or commercial trade of archaeological goods, a point highlighted by the police tourism director.
- The ministry will keep the pieces under custody for conservation and further study while investigators complete the criminal case and authorities monitor online marketplaces for similar illicit offers.