Two men arrested in connection with £2.5 million Ming vase heist

A 15th century vase worth around £2.5million stolen in a 2019 burglary has been recovered.

The vase, dating back to the Chinese Ming Dynasty, is believed to have been stolen from a collection in Switzerland by a London-based organised crime group in June 2019.

Two men – one aged 42 and the other aged 44 – were arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods in Mayfair on October 15.

A search warrant was executed at an address in Charlton, south east London, as part of the investigation, and counterfeit currency, class A drugs and two suspected Tasers were found.

The ongoing investigation into the burglary is being conducted jointly with the Swiss authorities.

Detective Chief Inspector Jimi Tele, of the Met’s Specialist Crime North team, said: “This is a significant step forward in what remains a complex investigation into a high-value burglary.

“Whilst this vase is valued at around £2.5million, it is a one-off and unique and therefore has immeasurable cultural value. It will be repatriated in due course.

“The organised crime group at the centre of this investigation is also suspected of involvement in serious violence, so to arrest two suspected members safely is excellent.

“Bearing down on serious crime and violence remains the Met’s top priority, and we will continue to disrupt the workings of organised crime whose members think they are out of reach of the law.”