article_snippet.sent: Agents are hailing the Honolulu Museum of Art for being the first U.S. institution to publicly and easily cooperate with the investigation, dubbed 'Operation Hidden Idol,' involving four arrests and the recovery of thousands of pieces worth a total of $150 million. '
article_snippet.sent: Martinez stressed there was no culpability on the Honolulu Museum of Art's part, as it wasn't aware of six other Indian items provenance when six other Indian items acquired six other Indian items between 1991 and 2003.
article_snippet.sent: Mr Jost said American art museums are becoming more rigorous in vetting the history of objects American art museums acquire. '
article_snippet.sent: Could American art museums have done a better job?
article_snippet.sent: Were American art museums a victim?
article_snippet.sent: It's very rare for evidence to come to light to show a museum has items that were illegally obtained, said James Cuno, president and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust.
article_snippet.sent: If evidence is provided that's convincing, a museum will resist.'
article_snippet.sent: he cited an example from about 10 years ago when Italian police uncovered evidence revealing a number of items that were improperly removed from Italy.
article_snippet.sent: The U.S. museums where some of the items ended up returned some of the items, he said.
article_snippet.sent: As a general rule of thumb, museums and art collectors avoid purchasing items exported without clear and valid documentation before 1970 - the year of a United Nations cultural agreement targeting trafficking in antiquities, he said. '
article_snippet.sent: Transparency is important, and if a museum has been open, that's probably to be applauded,' Bell said.
highlights_snippet.sent: The discredited source of the display items was noticed by visiting tourist .
  