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Federal agents have taken steps to repatriate a thousand-year-old statue, currently housed at Sotheby's, that was pulled from an auction last year after Cambodia claimed ownership of it.

The New York Times has an extensive story on the case, and the seizure filing. The Southern District U.S. Attorney's Office sent out the following statement:

“The Duryodhana statue is imbued with great meaning for the people of Cambodia and, as we allege, it was looted from the country during a period of upheaval and unrest, and found its way to the United States. With today’s action, we are taking an important step toward reuniting this ancient artifact with its rightful owners.”