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Massive Art Forgery Ring Busted
Italian police, with the help of Eurojust, dismantle a major art forgery ring responsible for thousands of fake artworks by renowned artists like Banksy, Picasso, and Warhol.
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EntertainmentNetherlandsInvestigationPoliceAuctionArt CrimeForgery
EurojustItalian Police
BanksyPablo PicassoAndy WarholAmedeo ModiglianiMonetKandinskyVan GoghDalí
- What charges are the suspects facing?
- All seized artworks have been handed over to the Italian authorities for further investigation. The 38 suspects face charges of forgery and trafficking in stolen goods.
- How many fake artworks were produced by the group?
- The investigation began with a house search in Pisa, where 200 forgeries were discovered. Monitoring online auction platforms then led authorities to the forgers' workshops and wider network across several European countries.
- What triggered the investigation into the art forgery ring?
- An international ring of art forgers was busted by Italian police, with the help of Eurojust. The group is accused of creating around 2000 fake artworks by famous artists like Banksy, Picasso, and Warhol.
- What was the group's plan for selling the counterfeit artworks?
- Banksy exhibitions in Venice and Tuscany featured the counterfeit works, complete with catalogs. This strategy aimed to increase the credibility and market value of the forgeries.
- Which artists' works were most prominently forged by this ring?
- The forgeries included works by renowned artists such as Monet, Kandinsky, Van Gogh, and Dalí, among others. The group planned to auction the fakes for an estimated €200 million before being apprehended.