The representative of Libya at UNESCO, Abdul-Qader Maleh, has confirmed that the process of tracking and returning Libyan artifacts smuggled to Spain is continuing through good coordination between the Libyan and Spanish authorities.

Maleh explained in a statement to the Libyan News Agency that the Spanish authorities are following up the case, suggesting that the number of stolen items is large.

Maleh also stated that there are doubts about the use of such stolen items in the financing of terrorism.

Last month Spanish police said it uncovered “numerous works of art" including seven mosaics, marble statues and a sarcophagus, looted from Libya by “ISIS” during raids carried out in five locations in Barcelona.

The police said the works were stolen from archaeological sites in Libya’s eastern coastal region of Cyrenaica and northern region of Tripolitania.

Two Spanish dealers were arrested on charges of membership in a criminal ring, document falsification, smuggling and financing terrorism.