Feds to Seize $1.1 Million Dinosaur on Friday

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Just as this dinosaur specimen, a relative of Tyrannosaurus rex, went up for auction on May 20, a question arose as to whether or not it was taken illegally from Mongolia.
Just as this dinosaur specimen, a relative of Tyrannosaurus rex, went up for auction on May 20, a question arose as to whether or not it was taken illegally from Mongolia. (Image credit: Wynne Parry)

Federal officials have plans to seize a dinosaur skeleton that paleontologists and Mongolian officials say was taken illegally from that country.

Yesterday, a federal judge signed a warrant allowing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI) to seize the fossils, which belong to a 8-foot tall and 24-foot long (2.4-by-7.3 meter) Tarbosaurus bataar skeleton. 

"It's a big package we have to pick up," said Luis Martinez, spokesman for ICE HSI. "We will keep it at a government location until we can repatriate it to Mongolia. Of course that all depends on the legal outcome."

The dinosaur is now the subject of a civil case initiated by the Manhattan U.S. Attorney.

Shortly before the fossils went up for auction on May 20, Mongolian President Elbegdorj Tsakhia attempted to prevent the sale of the Tarbosaurus, a type of tyrannosaur, saying the fossils were almost certainly taken illegally from his country. Heritage Auctions, which was in charge of the sale, sold the dinosaur for $1.1 million on the condition that the courts approve the sale.

On Monday (June 18), the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's office announced it was filing a civil suit to take possesion of the dinosaur, with the intent of returning it to Mongolia. In its complaint, the government contended that the fossils were subject to forfeiture, because those who imported them did so knowing they were stolen and because false information was provided on the customs forms.

After the fossils are seized they are expected to be held at an undisclosed facility while the legal case proceeds, Martinez said.

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Wynne Parry
Wynne Parry
Wynne was a reporter at The Stamford Advocate. She has interned at Discover magazine and has freelanced for The New York Times and Scientific American's web site. She has a masters in journalism from Columbia University and a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Utah.