More than 60 cultural artifacts illegally smuggled into the U.S. from Iraq were returned to the Iraqi government during a ceremony in Washington D.C. on Monday . The move follows a culmination of investigations led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in New York , Baltimore , Austin , Texas , and New Haven , Connecticut . Among the items salvaged were a gold-plated door knocker , water urn and soap dish from Saddam Hussein 's private airport and palace . More than 60 cultural artifacts illegally smuggled into the U.S. from Iraq have been returned to the Iraqi government - Among the items salvaged were a door knocker , water urn and soap dish from Saddam Hussein 's private airport and palace ( above ) Investigators were alerted to the belongings when a source tipped them off that gold-plated artifacts from the former president 's properties were on the market . 'They 're invaluable to the host country , ' said Bruce Foucart , the agent in charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New England . The artifacts were returned to their home country at a special event held at the Embassy of Iraq . One of the most significant objects on show was the head of a statue representing King Sargon II . The limestone carving was recovered in New York in 2008 by agents who broke up a smuggling ring operated by a dealer in Dubai . The move follows a culmination of investigations led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in New York , Baltimore , Austin , Texas , and New Haven , Connecticut . The artifacts were returned to Iraq at a ceremony at the Iraqi consulate in Washington on Monday . In Iraq , the Islamic State group has destroyed a number of shrines and ancient artifacts in order to eliminate what they view as heresy . Lukman Faily , Iraq 's ambassador to the U.S. , said Monday 's ceremony sends a message to Islamic State that Iraq and its allies are committed to rebuilding the country and preserving its cultural heritage . Faily said the return of the looted items is ' a national project and we call upon all countries to help us in preserving this heritage which is not only valuable for Iraq but for all mankind . ' The Smithsonian has trained a cadre of Homeland Security Investigations agents in how to research the provenance of cultural artifacts as they investigate smuggling . Iraqi Ambassador to the US Lukman Faily ( right ) speaks in front of a sculpture of the head of Assyrian King Sargon II . The limestone statue was recovered in New York in 2008 by agents who broke up a smuggling ring operated by a dealer in Dubai . The artifacts recovered by the New Haven , Connecticut-based agents were brought to the U.S. by a government contractor who handed them over when confronted by investigators , Foucart said . The investigation began with a tip in April 2012 and Foucart said his agents became involved because Connecticut was a possible destination for the items . Among the other items recovered by multi-year investigations are an ancient bronze axe and 21 clay reliefs . The Immigration and Customs Enforcement unit has reportedly returned more than 1,200 items to Iraq in four repatriations since 2008 .
The move follows a culmination of investigations led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents . Lukman Faily , Iraq 's ambassador to the U.S. , said Monday 's ceremony sends a message to New England that Iraq and its allies are committed to rebuilding the country and preserving its cultural heritage . Among the other items recovered by multi-year investigations are an ancient bronze axe and 21 clay reliefs .