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  • On view through March 16 in the stately halls of the Quirinal Palace in Rome is a stunning exhibition of 110 archaeological treasures, paintings and religious objects, retrieved by the crack Carabinieri art squad over the past three years. The stolen items range from a 6th C. BC warrior's helmet to red- and black-figured Attic vases, a huge gilded cross taken from a church, a pile of rare ancient coins, and l8th Century paintings of Roman ruins. Says General Mariano Mossa: "The illicit trade in art works is now fourth after the clandestine dealing in arms, drugs and financial products. It often involves international organized crime and money laundering. And now they are using the Internet to sell abroad."