Criminal Network Imitating Banksy and Picasso Uncovered in Italy
Rome, November 12 (Hibya) - Italian police have dismantled a forgery network suspected of producing sophisticated copies of works by some of the world’s most renowned artists, including Banksy, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, and Gustav Klimt.
In a joint statement on Monday, Italy’s art police and the Pisa prosecutor’s office announced that 38 individuals were under investigation in Italy, Spain, France, and Belgium for conspiracy to acquire stolen goods, forgery, and illegal sale of artworks.
The investigation began last year when Italy’s art police seized approximately 200 counterfeit pieces, including a replica of a drawing by Italian painter Amedeo Modigliani, from a businessman’s collection in Tuscany.
This discovery led investigators to uncover six counterfeiting workshops—two in Tuscany, one in Venice, and three elsewhere in Europe. The suspects primarily produced copies of Warhol and Banksy’s works before brokering deals with various Italian auction houses.
They even organized two Banksy exhibitions in prestigious locations in Mestre, near Venice, and Cortona, Tuscany, with a published catalog.
A total of over 2,100 counterfeit artworks with a potential market value of approximately 200 million euros were seized.
British News Agency
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