Operation reviews

The review includes a statistical summary, a presentation of each completed operation, a table of returns and an analysis of trends. It also describes the difficulties encountered: procedural delays, disparities between legal systems, language barriers.

It is published in French, English and Spanish, in accessible PDF format, with a two-page summary intended for the press and the general public.

An operation is counted in the review for the year in which it was closed. A work is counted as returned only once the physical transfer has taken place and been certified by a report signed by both parties. Works that have been seized but not yet returned appear under a separate heading.

This method avoids double counting and makes years comparable. It is checked each year by an independent auditor.

Three findings emerge from the 2024 financial year. First, cooperation between administrations is all the more effective when officials know one another: operations preceded by joint training were completed more quickly. Second, the online market has become a major arena. Finally, returns are faster when provenance is well documented.

These lessons inform the following year's work programme and the Academy's training modules.

Returns are classified by type of object and by region of origin. The review states the average time between seizure and handover, as well as the cases in which an amicable settlement avoided litigation. Each notable return is the subject of a short note.

Images of the returned works are available in the photo library, for editorial use with credit.

The data are verified by an independent auditor, who checks a sample of files. If an error is found, it is corrected in a revised version published under the same reference, with a note of the correction.

States and partners may request clarification on any line of the review. The Directorate replies within thirty days.