The ELAS announced the dismantling of a criminal organization, whose members were active in the preparation and sale of fake works of art and specifically paintings, allegedly created by famous artists in various areas of Attica.

Following a coordinated police operation by the Sub-Directorate for Combating Trafficking in Persons and Goods, which took place from early morning to late evening hours yesterday, Tuesday (10/6), simultaneously in areas of the basin, 13 people, members of the organization, were arrested for the case.

A case file was formed against them for – on occasion – the formation, membership and management of a criminal organization, aggravated fraud, serial over 120.000 euros, aggravated infringement of intellectual property, on a commercial scale and by a particularly dangerous culprit, on a serial basis, misappropriation of monuments, on a professional basis, on a serial basis, aggravated money laundering from criminal activities, on a serial basis, misappropriation, obligation to declare metal detectors or other interception instruments and drug trafficking.

As part of the police operation, a covert investigation was carried out by officers of the Department for the Protection of Cultural Heritage and Antiquities, during which members of the criminal organization were to proceed with three purchases of fake works of art: the first involved the purchase of 25,000.000 euros for a Picasso painting depicting a female figure, the second involved the purchase of 6 objects (two paintings by Pollock, a painting by Claude Monet and 3 religious icons) for the price of 100,000 euros and the third involved the purchase of 7 objects (5 paintings by the painter Parthenis and 2 religious icons) for the price of 150,000 euros.

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How they acted

To achieve their purpose, the members of the organization, at least from February 2025, had set up a criminal organization, structured and with continuous activity, and using appropriate infrastructure (a fully equipped laboratory with two aging ovens, paints, pallets, brushes, etc.) they proceeded to:

– the manufacture of fake paintings by foreign painters of international fame and Greek painters whose works have been recognized as monuments of modern cultural heritage and are covered by the law on antiquities,
– the drawing up of false certificates of authenticity, using false stamps and
– in making the “works” available as genuine, through members of the organization who maintained second-hand and antique shops (three antique shops in areas of Attica), as well as members who mediated sales through a circle of contacts with a wide financial network.

The defendants had a specific modus operandi and distinct roles.

Specifically:

– 2 leaders of the organization (63 and 37 years old) jointly made forged works of art by various Greek painters (e.g., Parthenis, Theophilos) and foreign artists (e.g., Monet, Picasso, Van Gogh), of particular monetary value, as well as created forged certificates, which were then circulated through other members of the organization,
– 4 persons (58, 39, 40 and 63 years old), a sub-group of the organisation, who, in consultation with the directors, exploited antique shops in Attica, knowingly bought the forged works and resold them as genuine to private individuals,
– 2 persons (71 and 57 years old), who played an auxiliary role in the creation of forged certificates and works of art. The 57 year old possessed the know-how and means from a photocopy shop that he maintained, supplied the 63 year old director with fake stamps on his order, while he provided appropriate stamps and fingerprints on the fake paintings at his order, thus creating virtual historical origins, making the – knowingly – fake paintings appear to be genuine and
– 5 individuals (59, 60, 49, 49, 57, and 45 years old), who proceeded to sell the artworks and to seek buyers.

In total, from the searches carried out in homes and other premises in areas of Attica, were found, including and seized:

– a painting on a fixed substrate, signed Picasso 1965, measuring 130 cm by 85 cm
– a painting on wood dated 22/12/1967 and signed GAUTIER,
– 204 paintings by various Greek and foreign artists,
– 19 religious paintings,
– 2,087 coins, the majority of which fall under the law on antiquities (ancient Greek, Roman, Greco-Roman, Byzantine, and modern period),
– 2 vehicles,
– 3 digital data storage media (USB) and memory card,
– 2 portable computers,
– 13 wooden seals with impressions of various art dealers/collectors, painters, art critics, writers, certificates, former Director of the National Gallery, former President of Romania,
– 4 metal labels with inscriptions of various art dealers and painters,
– 2 ink pads for stamps,
– several painting tools (brushes, inks, paint cartridges, pens, pots of solvent, painting powders, acrylic paints, hammers, brushes, brushes, chisels, spatulas, lathes, etc.),
– manual electric sander,
– metal detector
– electric air oven,
– electric air furnace without indications on metal construction,
– 14 clay and bronze figurines,
– 2 clay loupes,
– marble and plaster female head,
– 3 bronze statuettes,
– 19 correspondence envelopes with handwritten inscriptions, including names of painters, containing colour and black and white prints/sheets of paper of paintings,
– a block with 25 pages of artwork,
– several black and white prints of paintings,
– sheet of paper with black and white artwork and handwritten signatures on both sides,
– handwritten notes on works of art and artists,
– proof of delivery of money and documents,
– 2 books of photographs of works of art,
– pages of in-kind donation agreements for works of art and affidavits,
– pages on works of art and monetary transactions,
– 8 mobile phones,
– recording device,
– a bag of stamps,
– a cloth bag with jewelry and watches,
– 4 folders with certificates and certificates of authenticity,
– a silkscreen photograph of Salvador Dali,
– leather handbag with numerous documents and certificates of authenticity and the
– the sum of 66,125 euros and 50 pounds sterling.

The arrested persons were taken to the relevant prosecuting authority.

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