Employees from the Main Directorate "Criminal Police" busted Friday an illegal treasure-hunting group in the vicinity of the city of Veliko Tarnovo.

The authorities found in the group's possession and confiscated a very well preserved antique statue dating from the Roman Empire.

The group included four individuals, ages 35 to 55, some of them with criminal records, related to illegal treasure-hunting.

The group dealt with illegal archaeological excavations and trade of objects with cultural and historical value.

The antique statue is made from marble and portrays a life-size woman. It dates from the late Roman period. Preliminary expert reports estimate its value at hundreds of thousands of EUR.

The statue will be send for storage and further expertise to the National Historical Museum (NIM). NIM considers the statue a precious and unique acquisition since it is entirely preserved, including its base, something deemed very rare by experts. Most of the finds form the same period have broken arms, heads and noses.