German Swiss Police Bust Multi-Million Euro Forged Art Plot Across Europe

German and Swiss police have uncovered a large-scale plot involving the sale of forged paintings purportedly created by renowned artists such as Rembrandt, Pablo Picasso, Frida Kahlo, Joan Miró, Peter Paul Rubens, and Amedeo Modigliani. The primary suspect is a 77-year-old German man, aided by ten accomplices, who attempted to sell about 20 counterfeit artworks for prices ranging from €400,000 to as high as €130 million. Among the forgeries was a copy of Rembrandt's "De Staalmeesters," valued at 120 million Swiss francs, which was seized from an 84-year-old Swiss woman now under investigation. The forgery operation was disrupted during coordinated raids in Germany, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein, where numerous counterfeit paintings and related materials were confiscated. Additionally, a genuine Picasso painting that had gone missing en route to a Spanish exhibition was recovered, though initial inquiries suggest it may never have been loaded onto the transport truck. The police continue detailed examinations of the seized artworks to determine their authenticity and further investigate the network behind this fraudulent scheme.