MADRID, 14 (EUROPA PRESS)
The U.S. FBI has returned to the Mexican government a manuscript signed by the Spanish navigator Hernán Cortes, which was allegedly stolen in the 1980s and 1990s, thanks to an operation in which authorities from the two neighboring countries collaborated.
The document dates back to 1527 and, as explained by Jessica Dittmer, an agent with the FBI's art crimes team, describes the payment of gold pesos for preparatory expenses for the discovery of the "spice lands," which gives an insight into the pre-planning for what was, at the time, "uncharted territory."
"Pieces like this are considered protected cultural assets and represent valuable moments in Mexican history, so it's something Mexicans keep in their archives to better understand history," Dittmer said in a statement.
The recovered document was once part of Mexico's National Archives, but an inventory conducted in 1993 revealed that 15 pages were missing. The investigation later reached the United States, a country from which the Mexican government specifically requested assistance in 2024.
The FBI has confirmed that the manuscript "changed hands several times" since its disappearance, so it rules out prosecuting anyone for alleged theft, according to Dittmer. However, he hopes this type of operation will serve to deter future criminals who want to traffic in cultural property.
