In a sweeping international operation, Bavarian police have uncovered a sophisticated art forgery ring, seizing counterfeit works falsely attributed to legendary artists such as Pablo Picasso, Rembrandt, and Frida Kahlo. The operation, spanning Germany, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein, led to the confiscation of artworks valued at millions of euros. The alleged mastermind, a 77-year-old German man, along with 10 accomplices, faces charges of conspiracy and fraud. Authorities became suspicious when the suspect attempted to sell two purported Picasso originals and a forged version of Rembrandt’s ‘De Staalmeesters’ for a staggering 120 million Swiss francs (£113m), despite the original being housed in Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum. The counterfeit ‘De Staalmeesters’ was owned by an 84-year-old Swiss woman, who is now under investigation. During coordinated raids on October 15, police seized numerous suspected forgeries, along with documents, electronic devices, and cloud data. The suspect allegedly attempted to sell 19 additional counterfeit works by renowned artists, including Frida Kahlo, Peter Paul Rubens, Amedeo Modigliani, and Joan Miró, with prices ranging from €400,000 (£349,000) to €14 million (£12.2m). A 74-year-old accomplice was accused of fabricating expert reports to authenticate the forgeries. Both suspects were arrested but later conditionally released as the investigation continues. All seized artworks will undergo detailed examination by experts in the coming weeks.