A documentary about BLOOD ANTIQUITIES that is linked to the BVI and JERSEY

A documentary, "LOOT is A Story of Crime and Redemption", that explores the dark underbelly of the global art market.

THE DOCUMENTARY

• Takes a daring look at the underbelly of the global art market,
• Exposes the criminal network that used child soldiers to raid Cambodian temples violently, then delivered blood antiquities to the homes of billionaires and elite Western museums. 

THE STORY IS DEEPLY EMOTIONAL,

• Relying on former looters to tell their story and
• A top American detective to unravel a criminal network stretching from the jungles of Southeast Asia to the top of the Western art world.

BVI/JERSEY CONNECTION

• The connection between the criminal network involved in raiding Cambodian temples and trafficking blood antiquities and the BVI and Jersey can be seen through the story of Douglas Latchford and his use of offshore trusts and companies.

IN 2019, DOUGLAS LATCHFORD WAS INDICTED IN THE USA

1. Douglas Latchford faced several serious charges in the United States related to his involvement in the illicit trade of Cambodian antiquities.
2. In 2019, he was indicted by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of New York on multiple counts, including:
1. Wire Fraud Conspiracy: Latchford was accused of conspiring to commit wire fraud by selling looted Cambodian antiquities with false provenance documents.
2. Conspiracy to Commit Smuggling and Other Crimes: This included smuggling, making false statements on importation records, and transporting stolen property across state lines .
3. Wire Fraud: The charges also included specific instances of wire fraud, highlighting the fraudulent transactions he conducted.
4. Smuggling: Latchford was charged with smuggling artefacts into the United States by misrepresenting their origins.
5. Entry of Goods employing False Statements: He falsified shipping and import documents to facilitate the illegal entry of these artefacts into the U.S..
3. The U.S. authorities also pursued civil forfeiture actions against his estate, resulting in a $12 million settlement and the forfeiture of significant artefacts

DOUGLAS LATCHFORD AND HIS USE OF OFFSHORE TRUSTS AND COMPANIES  

• Douglas Latchford, a controversial British antiquities dealer, utilised Jersey trusts via the BVI to hold his collection of looted Cambodian artefacts.

• Latchford hired Trident Trust, a company specialising in offshore finance.  
• Douglas Latchford used Jersey trust structures, such as the Skanda Trust and the Siva Trust, via the BVI to hold his collection of looted Cambodian artefacts.
• The trusts were structured to avoid UK inheritance tax and involved entities registered in the British Virgin Islands.
• These trusts helped him transfer assets, including Khmer antiquities, to his daughter Julia Latchford, thereby avoiding UK inheritance tax.
• This involvement added another layer of complexity and privacy to Latchford's operations, making tracing the origins and ownership of the illicitly obtained artefacts more challenging.
• This illicit trade, which exploited child soldiers to plunder Cambodian temples, ultimately delivered ancient treasures into the collections of elite Western museums and billionaires.
• Rathbones, a wealth management firm in Jersey, managed Latchford's investments, including accounts linked to these trusts.

• Also, the money was also held in unnamed Jersey banks

• In 2016, Rathbones filed a suspicious activity report regarding Latchford's investments, which included concerns about potential money laundering.

SOBERING REMINDER OF THE DARK SIDE OF THE ART AND ANTIQUITIES MARKET

• This complex network highlights the lengths to which Latchford went to conceal the origins and ownership of his illicitly obtained artefacts. It's a sobering reminder of the dark side of the art and antiquities market.

DOCUMENTARY TRAILER IS HERE

• https://www.lootfilm.com/

REFERENCES

• Cambodian ‘blood antiquities’ documentary draws on ICIJ’s Pandora ...https://www.icij.org/investigations/hidden-treasures/cambodian-blood-antiquities-documentary-draws-on-icijs-pandora-papers-reporting/
• JERSEY TRUSTS TO RETURN STOLEN (PROCEEDS OF CRIME) ARTEFACTS TO ...https://www.comsuregroup.com/news/jersey-trusts-to-return-stolen-proceeds-of-crime-artefacts-to-cambodian-people/
• LOOT: A Story of Crime and Redemption (2025) - Trakt https://trakt.tv/movies/loot-a-story-of-crime-and-redemption-2025
• KHMER TREASURES RETURNED TO CAMBODIA. NEXT UP THE $12 MILLION HELD IN ... https://www.comsuregroup.com/news/khmer-treasures-returned-to-cambodia-next-up-the-12-million-held-in-jersey/
• The Pandora Papers Leak Reveals How the Late Dealer Douglas Latchford ...https://news.artnet.com/art-world/pandora-papers-douglas-latchford-2017069.
• A notorious dealer used trusts to hoard looted Khmer treasures https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2021/10/09/2003765777
• Antiquities Trafficking Indictment Unsealed: Latchford Prosecution ...https://culturalheritagelawyer.com/antiquities-trafficking-indictment-cambodia-latchford/
• Southern District of New York - United States Department of Justice https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/us-attorney-announces-12-million-settlement-civil-forfeiture-action-against-estate
• [3] $12M settlement announced of civil forfeiture action against ... https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/12m-settlement-announced-civil-forfeiture-action-against-antiquities-trafficker