Thousands of coins dating to the eight century were seized from smugglers, UAE authorities said on Wednesday.
Officials of the Federal Drug Control Department arrested a gang that tried to ship the coins in by sea.
Authorities said 2,056 coins, some more than 1,200 years old, were found on a dhow. They said 55 of them were Greek, and 2,001 dated from 778AD.
More than eight kilograms of drugs and 8.6kg of crystal meth were also seized during the raid.
Officers found the items in boxes and plastic bags hidden under the boat’s deck.
"The UAE is keen on [preserving] historical and world heritage and the safety of society," Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, wrote in a tweet.
“The efforts of the federal anti-drug men overthrew a gang that attempted to smuggle antiquities, coins and narcotic materials into the country.
“The Ministry of Interior will firmly continue to chase such criminals, and I would like to thank the Emirati community for their constant co-operation.”
The date of the raid and the country from where the items were being brought was not revealed.
UAE law prohibits smuggling of ancient artefacts. Those found guilty can be fined Dh10 million ($2.7m) and jailed for two years.
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Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
