A prevalent issue in today's sociopolitical climate is the continued danger of looting and destruction of antiquities in places affected by conflict and political unrest. This loss of cultural property affects not only the cultural fabric of the communities involved, but also has ramifications for international policy and market behaviors worldwide. This paper examines the effect of trafficking cultural property from conflict zones on an international scale, and the potential of current proposed legislation from key countries on this issue. In order to thoroughly and accurately analyze the intentions and effectiveness of these legislative efforts, the structure and impact of the trafficking enterprise itself needs to be evaluated. Research is limited in this regard, as the issue of international art and antiquities theft and trafficking spans many fields of study, including law, anthropology, art history, archaeology, criminology, criminal justice, and politics. Each field's research is primarily focused on examining their own specialty rather than combining data and theories to create a comprehensive picture of the current environment, and this is the void that my research aims to substantiate. Through examination of past legislation, the evolution of the criminal enterprise, and the acts of devastation and loss suffered in the Syrian conflict, the timeliness and necessity of preventative measures becomes apparent. Therefore, this thesis will finally look at current proposed legislation and independent efforts confronting the crimes of antiquities trafficking and destruction, and assess their merit in the context of the widespread detrimental effects that they inflict globally.