The value amounts to half a million euros | Up to 64 people have been investigated for alleged crimes of fraud and against intellectual property
The Historical Heritage Group of the National Police Unit attached to the Valencian Community has intervened so far this year 3. 4 artworks fakes of renowned artists that were being marketed in the fraudulent market of different capitals of Spain for a value close to half a million euros.
Most of the intervened works correspond to important Valencian artists such as Joaquín SorollaMariano BenlliureJosé Benlliure, José Segrelles and Manuel Hernández Mompó, although there are also other works attributed to artists of great international prestige such as Titian and Salvador Dali, among others.
In the course of these intervention operations they have been investigated up to 64 people for alleged crimes of fraud and against the intellectual property of some works that, if they had been marketed through the usual legal channels, “would have reached an incalculable value”. Among the intervened works stands out one attributed to Salvador Dalí and that was advertised for sale for a value of 45,000 euros, as reported by the Generalitat in a statement.
The locations and interventions of the Police of the Generalitat have taken place in Valencia, Madrid, Barcelona, Zaragoza, Palma de Mallorca, Seville and Rubielos de Mora (Teruel), and has had the collaboration of the Historical Heritage Brigade of Madrid, Police Headquarters of Valencia, Catalonia, Aragon, Western Andalusia and Asturias. The Investigating Courts of Valencia, Madrid, Barcelona, Zaragoza, Mallorca, Seville and Teruel have taken charge of these investigations, which began in January 2022 and ended in June of the same year.
For the identification of the works and their corresponding authorship, we have had the expert collaboration from the San Pío V Museum in Valencia, technicians from the General Directorate of Culture of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports, the Valencian Institute of Conservation, Restoration and Research (IVCR+I), as well as foundations and specialists.
Looting of archaeological objects
On the other hand, the Property Unit of the Police of the Generalitat has also carried out several operations in the same period in the fight against the looting of archaeological objects. they have intervened 47 pieces archaeological finds that were marketed through the internet, and that were looted at different archaeological sites, according to the sources.
In another of the operations they came to intervene 143 coins and 89 ceramic pieces, after being illegally removed from a house located within the protection environment of the medieval neighborhood of Bocairent. These last pieces were deposited in the Archaeological Museum of Ontinyent and La Vall d’Albaida by indication of the Territorial Directorate of Education, Culture and Sports.
In addition, proceedings have been taken against the author of some murals made inside the Hermitage of San Cristóbal de Alcoy (Alicante), who is accused of an alleged crime against historical heritage as said property is an Asset of Local Relevance.
A bronze sculpture has also been recovered, with the effigy of the painter Manuel Viola and made by the sculptor Miguel Cabré Cazcarra. The piece was stolen from inside a building in San Lorenzo de El Escorial (Madrid) and its sellers/owners have been prosecuted for a crime of receiving.