Italian police have uncovered a major European network involved in forging and selling fake artworks by some of the biggest names in modern art, including Banksy, Andy Warhol, and Pablo Picasso.
The extensive operation led to the recovery of more than 2,100 counterfeit artworks, which had a potential market value of about €200 million (£165 million; $213 million).
Authorities arrested 38 people in connection with the forgeries, while six forgery workshops were found—two in Tuscany, one in Venice, and others across Europe, according to Italian prosecutors.
Those detained now face charges of conspiracy, handling stolen goods, forgery, and illegal sale of artworks, stated Italy’s Carabinieri cultural squad and the Pisa prosecutor’s office in a joint announcement on Monday.
The investigation began in 2023 after police seized around 200 fake artworks from a Pisa businessman’s collection, including a counterfeit piece attributed to Italian painter Amedeo Modigliani.
Subsequent raids in Italy, Spain, and Belgium yielded more forged works attributed to over 30 renowned artists, such as Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh, Salvador Dalí, Henry Moore, Gustav Klimt, Joan Miró, Jackson Pollock, Francis Bacon, and Piet Mondrian.
Chief Prosecutor of Pisa, Teresa Angela Camelio, described the crackdown as a major step in preserving the estate of Banksy, one of the world’s most famous yet anonymous artists.
Banksy’s work frequently falls prey to criminals.
Recently, two individuals were arrested in London over the theft of his Girl with Balloon, and another recent collection was vandalized shortly after appearing across various sites in London.
Other iconic artists like Warhol have also been targeted. Earlier this month, two of Warhol’s artworks were stolen from a Dutch gallery during a nighttime break-in.
This extensive operation underscores ongoing efforts to combat art forgery and protect the legacy of influential artists in the face of increasing criminal interest.
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