Egypt's Antiquities and Tourism Police foiled an attempt to smuggle a collection of 135 artefacts that date back to the Mohamed Ali Pasha era before they left the country from Damietta port en route to the United States.

The artefacts were found within a batch of wooden furniture that was to be exported to the United States.

According to Ahmed Al-Rawi, head of the Smuggling Antiquities Unit, the antiquities include 97 ceramic vases, plates and chandeliers, as well as 38 wooden objects that have been traced back to the era of Mohamed Ali Pasha in the 19th century. 

All the objects have been confiscated and the owner of the Alexandria based import and export organisation is under investigation.