Three individuals have been found guilty after a valuable vase worth £2 million, which was stolen from the Museum of Far Eastern Art in Geneva, Switzerland in June 2019, was successfully recovered in a well-executed sting operation by the police. The defendants, Mbaki Nkhwa, Kaine Wright, and David Lamming, all hailing from south-east London, were apprehended by Scotland Yard officers who posed as potential buyers.
At Southwark crown court in London last Friday, Nkhwa and Wright were convicted of conspiring to convert criminal property, while Lamming had already pleaded guilty to the same offense during a previous hearing in March. The vase, belonging to the Chinese Ming dynasty, was seized by the undercover officers in October 2021, marking the culmination of a meticulous four-year investigation involving collaboration between various international law enforcement agencies.
Detective Chief Inspector Matt Webb, representing the Metropolitan Police’s specialist crime unit, expressed his satisfaction with the outcome, attributing the success to their strong relationships with foreign counterparts and their ability to operate beyond national borders. He also mentioned that the Ming dynasty vase, which is actually a bottle from the Yongle period, is imbued with a fascinating history spanning several centuries, with this recovery marking another significant chapter. Returning the treasure to its rightful owners was a gratifying achievement for the authorities.
The breakthrough in the case came when an auction house alerted the police in July 2020 after receiving an email seeking a valuation for the stolen vase. Detectives traced the IP address back to Lamming’s residence. Subsequently, the police officers disguised as interested buyers approached the culprits and negotiated a sale price of £450,000. Nkhwa later handed over the vase to the undercover officers during a meeting at a hotel in central London, leading to his arrest. Communication records between Nkhwa, Lamming, and Wright supported the prosecution’s case, revealing their involvement and collaboration in the criminal activity.
Aside from the recovered Ming dynasty vase, two other items, collectively valued at £3.5 million, were also stolen during the 2019 burglary. An £80,000 bowl was initially auctioned in Hong Kong but later returned to the museum. The authorities are now appealing for public assistance in locating the remaining stolen item, a Ming dynasty cup known as the “doucai style” wine cup adorned with chicken decorations. To incentivize potential informants, a reward of up to £10,000 is being offered for information leading to the recovery of the cup.
In the rigorous pursuit of justice, Scotland Yard officers worked in close collaboration with their Swiss counterparts throughout the extensive four-year investigation, culminating in the successful convictions of the three men involved in this criminal plot.
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