A day before an online auction of… fake artworks was held, authorities raided the gallery located in the center of Thessaloniki, which led to the dismantling of the fake paintings ring.

The large and long-hour police operation at the art workshop was carried out on Wednesday by the experienced officers of the Organized Crime Sub-Directorate of Northern Greece, with hundreds of paintings being loaded into ELAS vehicles and transported for laboratory testing. At the same time, police officers also made three arrests of members of the ring.

According to reports, the investigation concerns a criminal organization that allegedly forged paintings of famous and well-known painters and then sold them for very high sums of money, reaping huge profits. Significantly, paintings were even found in the apartment building right next to the art studio on Svolou Street.

It seems that the circuit was forging paintings of famous Greek painters – among others, “victims” of their action were Mytaras, Parthenis, Gaitis, Stathopoulos, Zouni, Vasileiou, Hadjikyriakos – Gikas.

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The same information said that members of the criminal organization were making the fake paintings available to auction housesin Europe, while using posters and an online “campaign” on their website to inform the public about the auction that would take place today, Thursday. Significantly, the ring also allegedly sold a fake painting for as much as 98,000 euros.

Following the arrests, the members of the ring will be brought before the judicial authorities, while the indictment – with the case file being formed in the case – may be expanded.