Italian authorities dismantle international 19th-century art forgery ring

Italian Carabinieri and the Prosecutor's Office of Torre Annunziata have dismantled a criminal organization involved in the large-scale counterfeiting and trafficking of 19th-century Neapolitan paintings. The investigation, led by the TPC Nucleo of Cosenza, focused on forged works falsely attributed to various artists, most notably the prominent painter Vincenzo Irolli.

Law enforcement conducted searches and seizures across more than 20 Italian cities, including locations in Campania, Calabria, Puglia, Sicily, and Lombardy. The operation targeted 41 individuals, including antiquarians, art dealers, and restorers, as well as their homes and businesses. Authorities have identified 25 counts of criminal activity involving approximately 69 paintings, with 24 works already seized.

The network utilized both traditional art market channels and online platforms to reach international buyers. Investigators identified 84 online sales, nine of which involved purchasers in countries including Austria, Portugal, Spain, France, Great Britain, Belgium, and Ireland.