14 DAY TRIAL // A sword belonging to Saddam Hussein has been returned to Iraqi officials in a ceremony held on Monday, July 29.
It was found by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Daily Mail reports.
Customs official James Dinkins turned over the sword to Iraqi Ambassador Lukman Faily, after taking a memorable photo with the artifact.
Authorities were alerted about the sword by heads of an auction house in Manchester, New Hampshire.
It had already been sold for $15,000 (€11,300) on January 7, 2012 when it was seized from the auction house by the HSI.
The sword had been purchased by Amoskeag Auction Company from a combat historian stationed in Baghdad one year before the auction. Authorities dubbed it ineligible for export as a trophy of war.