Feds Seize Stolen Indian Religious Artifact From Collector's Park Ave. Home

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- It was quite sight on Park Avenue as Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents seized a stolen artifact from a private collector's home.

As CBS2's Meg Baker reported, it wasn't a special delivery, it was a special recovery.

"These pieces are 11th-12th century, southern India," said Brenton Easter a Special Agent with the Department of Homeland Security.

CBS2's cameras were on the Upper East Side on Wednesday as special agents removed a religious relic valued at $1 million from the home of an anonymous collector who authorities said was a victim of fraud.

"We recovered a religious idol that belongs to the people in India, which they would worship regularly, and we would be able to give it back to them," Easter said.

That Hindu statue is part of the largest antiquities seizure in American history. It was allegedly stolen by Indian dealer Subhash Kapoor, who is now under arrest in India.

Kapoor owned a gallery called The Art of Past on Madison Avenue and 89th Street. What collectors didn't know is that he was selling stolen goods.

In 2014, informants followed a tip to a storage facility in Queens. They found hundreds of other items worth more than $8 million, allegedly stolen by the same man, who authorities said had been smuggling stolen ancient artifacts for decades.

A spokesperson from the Indian consulate said this is about religion, not monetary value.

"We believe in faith rather than $1 million, $2 million. It doesn't matter value about faith," the spokesperson said.

Agents said thieves like Kapoor hire individuals to chip away at the temple and take off decorative pieces to sell.

"We've gone after 2,500 items worth over $100 million. We continue to seize items on a regular basis as you can see," Easter said.

Since 2007, more than 7,200 artifacts have been returned to 30 countries in Europe and Asia. They continue to search for more.