Five caught attempting to sell ‘Picasso painting’ in Turkey’s Tekirdağ

TEKİRDAĞ

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Five people were caught in the western province of Tekirdağ on Feb. 9 as they attempted to sell an oil painting said to have been drawn by the great Spanish artist Pablo Picasso, Doğan News Agency has reported.

Anti-smuggling police placed fellow officer Gültekin G., who is stationed in the Black Sea province of Rize, on technical surveillance based on intelligence that an oil painting allegedly drawn by Picasso would be sold for 3 million Turkish Liras ($814,189).

Police units later conducted an operation in the Marmara Ereğlisi district targeting suspects, seizing an oil painting wrapped in newsprint with some seals on its back following searches on two vehicles.

Five suspects, including Gültekin G., retired police chief Edip K., Murat G., Bünyamin A. and Erdem K. were detained in the operation before being released on probation by a court.

The painting, meanwhile, was transferred to the Tekirdağ Museum Directorate for its authenticity to be investigated.

Police have previously recovered paintings in similar anti-smuggling operations across the country in recent years, only for the works of art to be determined to be forgeries.