TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Police in New Taipei’s Pingxi District are investigating the theft of 18 bronze statues depicting Buddhist sages known as Arhats.

Each statue is a unique artwork originally brought from Hong Kong, and each is valued at over NT$1 million (US$30,280), UDN reported. The landowner, surnamed Lin (林), reported the theft several days ago after discovering the statues had been removed from a privately owned area near the entrance to Shifen Waterfall, a popular scenic site.

Lin has blamed the New Taipei City Government for the theft, citing a long-standing land dispute. Over a decade ago, the government expropriated land in the area to develop it as a public tourist attraction.

According to Lin, the statues were previously located in a more secure area but were relocated due to the expropriation, leaving them more vulnerable to theft. He claims the current location lacks adequate protection, making the valuable statues an easy target.

In response, the New Taipei Tourism Bureau said the expropriation process had followed all relevant regulations. The city government expressed regret over the incident and said police would carry out a thorough investigation into the disappearance.