- Mexico’s ambassador in Spain, Quirino Ordaz Coppel, receives a fragment of the Tlaquiltenango Codex from Magistrate Juan Carlos Peinado García.
- A Spanish citizen returns three additional pieces to the embassy.
In a significant act of cultural cooperation, Magistrate Juan Carlos Peinado García returned a fragment of the Tlaquiltenango Codex (Morelos) to Mexico's ambassador to Spain, Quirino Ordaz Coppel. This gesture strengthens the ties between the two countries and underscores their shared commitment to preserving cultural heritage.
The fragment was originally meant to be auctioned by Casa Abalarte in Madrid, in 2017. It was removed from the auction at the request of the Mexican government and, thanks to the involvement of the Central Operative Unit of the Spanish Civil Guard, was handed over to the 41st Court of Instruction in Madrid, which agreed to return it to the Mexican embassy on November 30, 2023. This action is part of an ongoing effort to prevent the illicit trafficking of Mexican cultural property.
Three additional archaeological pieces from Nayarit, ruled by experts from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) to be movable archaeological monuments, part of Mexico’s cultural heritage and property of the nation, were symbolically returned to the embassy. These monuments, which had been owned by Spanish citizen Carmen Celda, were returned to the embassy in 2022. Today’s act symbolizes her collaboration in preserving this heritage.
Globally, Mexico’s embassies and consulates have recovered more than 13,000 cultural pieces during the current administration, highlighting their work in fighting the illicit trafficking of cultural property, as part of the #MiPatrimonioNoSeVende (My Heritage Is Not for Sale) campaign. The strategy of the Mexican government, working together with the Ministries of Culture and Foreign Affairs, INAH, the Attorney General's Office, the National Guard and the National Customs Agency, focuses on strengthening practices to protect and restore cultural and historical property.
Mexico reaffirms its commitment to protecting its heritage, a pillar of its identity and culture.
