It is an incredible discovery made by the Iraqi officers in charge of a search in the province of Diyala, in the center of the country. While arresting three men suspected of drug trafficking, the officers got their hands on a painting that could well be a Picasso. If this is indeed the case, the value of the work could reach several million dollars, indicates CNN.
The seizure took place as part of a major anti-drug operation launched in Iraq last month. Colonel Bilal Sobhi, director of the Iraqi anti-narcotics office, did not show himself to be extremely surprised by the presence of the painting in the homes of traffickers. He explained that drug-related crimes were often accompanied by other illegal activities such as rape, violence, kidnapping, theft and trafficking in works of art and cultural objects.
A prolific artist
No details were immediately communicated as to the history of the painting’s ownership, its nature or the manner in which it will be authenticated.
Many creations by Pablo Picasso have been stolen in recent years. The artist, whose drawings have a high market value, is very present in the database set up by Interpol to identify stolen works of art. He is the author of 13,500 paintings, 34,000 illustrations and more than 100,000 engravings.