The Egyptian public prosecution said on Wednesday that it has ordered the detention of 19 people pending investigations, including former MP Alaa Hassanin and renowned businessman Hassan Rateb, over the illegal excavation and trafficking of antiquities.

Rateb and Hassanin were arrested separately less than a week ago. Rateb is accused of funding the excavations, which, under Egyptian law, can only be carried out by specialised state institutions.

Earlier this week, a court ordered the detention of Rateb and Hassanin for 15 days pending investigation.

In a statement on Wednesday, the prosecution said that 227 artefacts were found in the possession of the suspects.

According to the prosecution, an investigation by the interior ministry has revealed that the gang of 19 people was trading in looted antiquities obtained in illegal excavations in different parts of the country.

The suspects aimed to both sell artefacts inside the country and smuggle pieces abroad, the investigation revealed.

A committee formed by the Supreme Council of Antiquities has dated the seized artefacts to different eras in Egyptian history, the prosecution said on Wednesday.

The prosecution also said that it has identified and examined four of the gang’s illegal dig sites, and that it has interrogated 17 of suspects who were caught at these dig sites in possession of artefacts and digging tools.

The prosecution also said that it has interrogated former MP Hassanin, who was in possession of suspected antiquities upon his arrest.

Hassanin has denied the charges against him, which include managing the excavation operations.

Rateb has also been interrogated and denies the charges against him, the prosecution said.

Rateb is the former owner of Al-Mehwar satellite channel as well as the chairman of Sinai University, Sama Group, and the Sinai Cement Company.

The illegal excavation and smuggling of antiquities is punishable by up to 25 years in prison.