Mission Statement: to assist the integration of foreign residents living in Spain
Italian Police dismantle major art forgery network focusing on Banksy and other iconic artists
By Aurelia Munoz •
Published: 14 Nov 2024 • 16:57
• 1 minute read
Italian police have uncovered a vast European art forgery network that specialised in reproducing and illegally selling works attributed to some of the world’s most famous artists, including Banksy, Andy Warhol, and Pablo Picasso.
This operation led to the arrest of 38 individuals across Italy, Spain, France, and Belgium, all of whom now face charges related to conspiracy, forgery, and the illegal sale of counterfeit artwork.
Over 2,100 forged pieces were seized, valued at a potential €200 million. Investigators also uncovered six workshops involved in producing these high-quality counterfeits, with two based in Tuscany, one in Venice, and others spread across Europe. The criminal network didn’t limit itself to Banksy, Warhol, and Picasso; it also included forged works allegedly by artists like Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh, Salvador Dalí, Henry Moore, Joan Mirò, and Jackson Pollock.
The investigation began in 2023 after authorities confiscated around 200 forged pieces from an art collection owned by a businessman in Pisa. This collection included a fraudulent drawing attributed to Italian painter Amedeo Modigliani. Authorities quickly identified connections between these pieces and a sophisticated criminal ring that used auction houses across Italy to distribute the forgeries, adding credibility to their work by organising two Banksy-themed exhibitions in prestigious venues in Mestre, near Venice, and Cortona in Tuscany.
Banksy forgery ring
In a statement, Pisa’s Chief Prosecutor Teresa Angela Camelio highlighted the importance of the bust, which she believes represents one of the most significant operations to safeguard Banksy’s legacy. Experts from the Banksy archive participated in the investigation, contributing in identifying the counterfeit pieces and confirming the legitimacy of the seized items.
The forgery ring’s impact reflects the increasing value and high demand for modern art, particularly works by Banksy. His pieces, often created in public spaces, have become targets for criminals, as evidenced by recent cases, including a high-profile theft of his Girl with Balloon from a London gallery.
The operation underscores a broader challenge for the art market, as counterfeit works can circulate undetected, compromising both collectors and the integrity of renowned artists’ legacies. Italian police are hopeful that this major sting will serve as a deterrent against similar forgeries in Europe’s art circles.
Sign up for personalised news
Subscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox!
By signing up, you will create a Euro Weekly News account if you don’t already have one. Review our
Privacy Policy for more information about our privacy practices.
Known as the PEOPLE’S PAPER, Euro Weekly News is the leading English language newspaper in Spain. And it’s FREE!
Covering the Almeria, Axarquia, Costa Blanca North, Costa Blanca South, Costa del Sol , Costa Calida, Mallorca and beyond, EWN supports and inspires the individuals, neighbourhoods, and communities we serve, by delivering news with a social conscience. Whether it’s local news in Spain, UK news or international stories, we are proud to be the voice for the expat communities who now call Spain home.
With around half a million print readers a week and over 1.5 million web views per month, EWN has the biggest readership of any English language newspaper in Spain. The paper prints over 150 news stories a week with many hundreds more on the web – no one else even comes close.
Our publication has won numerous awards over the last 25 years including Best Free Newspaper of the Year (Premios AEEPP), Company of the Year (Costa del Sol Business Awards) and Collaboration with Foreigners honours (Mijas Town Hall). All of this comes at ZERO cost to our readers. All our print and online content always has been and always will be FREE OF CHARGE.
Sign up for personalised news
Subscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox!
By signing up, you will create a Euro Weekly News account if you don’t already have one. Review our Privacy Policy for more information about our privacy practices.
Close
