Dismantling of a vast European counterfeiting network

Italian carabinieri have just dismantled a European network of forgers operating on a large scale and producing counterfeits of works by major artists such as Banksy, Modigliani and Picasso. This investigation, called “Operation Caryatid”, began in March 2023 with the initial seizure of some 200 works from a contractor in Pisa, the starting point of a vast cross-border investigation. Among these works was a painting by Modigliani called Caryatid, which gave its name to the operation.

The network, deployed in several European countries, included six workshops in Tuscany, notably in Lucca and Pistoia, and in Veneto, as well as in Spain, Belgium and France. More than 2,100 counterfeit works, representing a potential market value of 200 million euros, were seized.

The public prosecutor of Pisa, Teresa Angela Camelio, revealed the underside of this affair which led to the indictment of 38 people. Among them are counterfeiters, intermediaries and auction house managers. These works, inspired by well-known artists such as Warhol, Chagall, Van Gogh and Klimt, were offered on the market through auctions in Italy and elsewhere.

The network employed sophisticated strategies to legitimize the fake works: several Banksy exhibitions were organized in 2023 in prestigious locations in Italy, accompanied by catalogs aimed at reinforcing the authenticity of the pieces on display. Investigators discovered the massive use of falsified certificates and stamps.

Stefano Antonelli, an expert at the Banksy Study Center, described this affair as “Greatest act of protection of Banksy’s works”highlighting the scale of counterfeit production. For example, works bearing the stamp of “Dismaland” (a special ephemeral amusement park created by Banksy in 2015 in the south of England) were put up for sale. The center has since received numerous requests to verify the authenticity of Banksy works purchased online, raising suspicions about their provenance.