What’s Hot: Officials seize $460K Picasso sketch at Ibiza airport

Spanish authorities on the island of Ibiza seized a Picasso sketch worth more than $460,000 after a traveler failed to declare it to airport customs.

News 12 Staff

Jul 20, 2022, 11:59 AM

Updated 866 days ago

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What’s Hot: Officials seize $460K Picasso sketch at Ibiza airport
Spanish authorities on the island of Ibiza seized a Picasso sketch worth more than $460,000 after a traveler failed to declare it to airport customs.
At first, the unnamed passenger from Switzerland tried to pass the drawing off as a copy with relatively little monetary value.
But a gallery invoice in his luggage listed it as the original 1966 Picasso work entitled "Trois Personnages" - or "Three Figures."
Spanish authorities said their Swiss counterparts had tipped them off to the passenger before he arrived on the island.
The alleged smuggling attempt took place in early July.
Officials only released details of the incident on Monday after preliminary analysis suggested the signed sketch was a genuine Picasso work.