Italian Authorities Unravel Major Forgery Network Targeting Iconic Artists**

Over 2,100 forged artworks are recovered across Europe, leading to the arrest of 38 individuals linked to a significant forgery ring specializing in modern art.**

Italian authorities have successfully dismantled a vast forgery ring believed to be one of the largest in Europe, responsible for creating and selling imitation artworks attributed to some of the most influential modern artists. The operation, led by the Carabinieri, unveiled more than 2,100 forged pieces, including Counterfeit works from legends like Banksy, Andy Warhol, and Pablo Picasso, with an estimated market value reaching approximately €200 million ($213 million).

In total, 38 suspects were apprehended, facing serious charges that include conspiracy to handle stolen goods, forgery, and the illegal sale of artwork. According to a joint statement from the Carabinieri cultural squad and the Pisa prosecutors' office, six forgery workshops were discovered during the investigation, with locations spanning Tuscany, Venice, and other European countries.

The bust was spurred in 2023 when Italian officials recovered around 200 counterfeit artworks from a businessman’s collection in Pisa. The trove contained forgeries of various prestigious painters, including a replica of Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani's drawing.

The forged artworks represent a wide array of over 30 well-known artists, encompassing names like Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Salvador Dali, and Gustav Klimt. Pisa Chief Prosecutor Teresa Angela Camelio hailed this operation as "the most significant act of protection" for Banksy's legacy, whose true identity remains cloaked in mystery.

This incident is not isolated; it reflects a growing concern surrounding the protection of artists' works, as Banksy has previously attracted criminal attention. Notably, in September, two individuals were arrested for stealing his iconic "Girl with Balloon" piece from a London art gallery. In a similar vein, Warhol's legacy faced its challenges when two of his artworks were stolen in a nighttime heist from a gallery in the Netherlands. The art world continues to grapple with the intersection of creativity and crime as authorities work to safeguard authentic artistic expression.