Chasing the Ancient Stolen Statues of Cambodia
Summary
This episode details the decade-long investigation into the looting of Khmer antiquities, sparked by the attempted auction of the Duryodhana statue. Reporter Matthew Campbell and lawyer Bradley Gordon uncover a trafficking network led by dealer Douglas Latchford, who supplied stolen artifacts to major museums and collectors. The case highlights the ongoing struggle to repatriate cultural heritage and the profound emotional impact of returning these "lost gods" to Cambodia.
Topics discussed
Sponsors: IBM, Optum, and Public.com
The Duryodhana statue and the Sotheby's auction
Introduction to The Big Take Asia and Khmer history
Legal challenges and the 1970 UNESCO cutoff
Bradley Gordon's investigation and Douglas Latchford
Sponsors: Public.com and IBM
Sponsor: Michigan business ecosystem
Latchford's indictment and the art market scale
Tracking looted artifacts and museum repatriation
Global art theft and emotional impact on Cambodia
Outro and sponsors: Hartford, Okta, and Michigan
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