Criminal organisation dismantled for selling forged paintings by renowned artists

The Hellenic Police have dismantled a criminal organisation whose members were exhibiting and selling forged paintings by famous artists in various areas of Attica.

The operation was carried out on Tuesday in multiple locations across Attica, resulting in the arrest of 13 individuals, while one more has been identified.

Members of the criminal organisation had planned three sales of forged artworks:

• •    The first involved the sale of a forged Picasso painting for 25 million euros.
• •   The second concerned six items – two paintings attributed to Jackson Pollock, one to Claude Monet, and three religious icons – offered for 100,000 euros.
• •    The third involved seven items – five works attributed to the Greek painter Parthenis and two religious icons – priced  at 150,000 euros.

During the searches, authorities found and seized, among other items:

• •    A painting signed “ Picasso 1965,” measuring 130 x 85 cm
• •    A wooden painting dated 22/12/1967 and signed “ GAUTIER”
• •    204 paintings attributed to various Greek and foreign artists
• •    19 religious icons
• •    2,087 coins (ancient Greek, Roman, Greco-Roman, Byzantine, and modern)
• •    13 wooden seals belonging to various art dealers, collectors, painters, art critics, writers, and individuals including a former      Director of the National Gallery and a former President of Romania
• •    4 metal labels with inscriptions from various art dealers and painters
• •    A metal detector
• •    14 clay and bronze figurines
• •    A silkscreen photograph of Salvador Dalí
• •    A leather briefcase containing numerous documents and certificates of authenticity.

The arrested individuals were brought before the competent prosecuting authority.

(Photo: Hellenic Police)

Source:amna.gr