Many of the works headed back to Cambodia and Thailand were featured in the museum’s galleries. All were linked to Douglas Latchford, a Khmer art collector later charged as a trafficker.
His decision to authorize the bombing of Cambodia, efforts to extricate the U.S. from the Vietnam War and role in the rapprochement with China continue to be felt in Southeast Asia.
Despite announcing a crackdown last year, the illegal operations have continued to flourish, protected by powerful officials with close ties to the government.
Hun Manet is expected to guide a generational shift in Cambodian politics, taking over for his father Hun Sen, one of the world’s longest-ruling prime ministers.