British brothers jailed for stealing Ming Dynasty artifacts from Geneva museum

Two British siblings, Louis and Stewart Ahearne, who unlawfully entered a Geneva museum and made off with priceless Chinese Ming Dynasty artifacts, have been handed prison sentences in Switzerland, according to authorities on Wednesday. The Metropolitan Police revealed that following a joint investigation by UK and Swiss authorities, the brothers were each sentenced to 3.5 years in a Swiss prison.

The theft occurred in 2019 at the Museum of Far Eastern Arts in Geneva, where two Ming Dynasty vases and a cup, dating back to the 15th century and valued at around three million pounds (USD 3.8 million), were stolen.

An international DNA database played a crucial role in solving the case, linking the DNA found at the crime scene to Stewart Ahearne, then residing in southeast London. Stewart Ahearne had reportedly rented a vehicle ahead of the theft and utilized it to transport the stolen artifacts back to the UK.


Undercover detectives, posing as art buyers, orchestrated a meeting with the suspects at a London hotel, ostensibly to "purchase" one of the stolen vases for 450,000 pounds (USD 570,000). The Ahearne brothers were apprehended during the undercover operation and subsequently extradited to Switzerland. They pleaded guilty on Monday, leading to their sentencing.

Detective Chief Inspector Matt Webb remarked, "The Ahearne brothers meticulously planned this burglary, carrying out careful reconnaissance to ensure they could make a clean getaway and bring the items back to the UK."

Additionally, three other individuals involved in the attempted sale of one of the stolen vases received separate sentences for possession of criminal property.

Notably, one Ming Dynasty wine cup adorned with chicken paintings remains missing, and authorities continue their efforts to locate it.