Authorities in Bavaria have made a significant breakthrough in combating art fraud, confiscating an extensive collection of fake masterpieces valued in the millions of euros. The operation, which involved coordinated raids across Germany, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein, has targeted a sophisticated forgery ring led by a 77-year-old German national and his 10 accomplices.
The investigation began when the ringleader attempted to sell two supposedly original Picasso paintings, sparking suspicion among authorities. Further investigation revealed plans to sell a forged Rembrandt painting, “De Staalmeesters” (The Masters of the Clothmakers’ Guild), for a staggering 120 million Swiss francs (£113m), despite the authentic version being a prized possession of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
The Bavarian State Criminal Police Office (BLKA) reported that the forged Rembrandt was found in Switzerland in the possession of an 84-year-old Swiss woman, who is now under investigation. This discovery confirmed suspicions that the painting was a copy, not a lost masterpiece.
The sophisticated operation involved meticulous planning, with one of the suspects, a 74-year-old German man, allegedly creating false expert reports to authenticate the artworks. The main suspect is also accused of attempting to sell 19 other counterfeit pieces attributed to renowned artists such as Frida Kahlo, Peter Paul Rubens, Amedeo Modigliani, and Joan Miró, with prices ranging from €400,000 (£349,000) to €14m (£12.2m).
During the dawn raids on 15 October, police seized a large quantity of suspected forgeries, along with crucial evidence including documents, digital records, mobile phones, and cloud data, which are currently undergoing detailed examination by experts.