Daring undercover operation in Nice leads to recovery of stolen Picassos
Ten suspects are on trial in Nice over a vast art theft operation uncovered by an undercover police operation that recovered millions of euros’ worth of stolen works, including paintings by Picasso.
Ten men and women went on trial in Nice on Thursday over a far-reaching art theft ring dismantled thanks to a bold undercover operation by the judicial police.
Listen to this article
The case dates back to 2017, when investigators from the Nice PJ recovered 23 stolen artworks, including seven paintings by Pablo Picasso, with an estimated value running into tens of millions of euros.
The breakthrough came after a tip-off from Belgium suggesting that major works were being sold illegally on the Côte d’Azur.
Two officers went undercover, posing as a Swiss buyer and his secretary.
After an initial meeting at a Nice hotel, they were led to a house in Peillon, where they discovered what one officer described as a “makeshift museum” of stolen art.
Among the seized works were The Old King and The Clown by Picasso.
The trial is due to conclude with a verdict on 19 January.