The Customs Surveillance service and the Civil Guard intercepted at the Ibiza airport a possible authentic creation by the Malaga author Pablo Picasso. The work, if it turns out to be authentic, could have a price of 420,000 euros, according to information collected by the Ibiza and Formentera Newspaper.
The seizure occurred last Tuesday, after a man from a flight originating in Switzerland refused to declare the work, assuring the agents operating at the local airport that the work was false.
However, given the indications that the painting could be authentic, the agents seized the work to verify its originality. According to the sources, the passenger tried to pass the work through customs without declaring it to the agents. The man tried to pass the control by showing a false purchase invoice. However, during the inspection the agents found another invoice for a higher price and probably the original.
The Civil Guard confirmed this Saturday that if it were an original work by Picasso, the painting would exceed a value of 400,000 euros, and they point out that any work of art valued at more than 150,000 euros must be declared. If the authorship is confirmed, the passenger from whom the alleged Picasso has been seized could face a crime of smuggling and a sanction for an administrative infraction.
