Iraqi Drug Raid Allegedly Uncovers Missing Picasso ‘Worth Millions’

Talk about an incredible find. The Iraqi Ministry of Interior reported it could have chanced upon a missing Pablo Picasso painting “worth millions of dollars” during a drug raid in Diyala, a central province just east of the capital Baghdad.

While it’s still unclear if the work truly is a Picasso, the alleged masterpiece was found in the possession of three suspects when they were arrested for the trade and transportation of narcotics. 

In a statement to the Iraqi News Agency, Colonel Bilal Sobhi of the Anti-Narcotics Media Office confirmed “a painting belonging to the international painter Picasso was seized in their possession,” and that it was “estimated at millions of dollars.”

As per ARTnews, no images or details of the artwork have emerged, and it has yet to be authenticated by experts. It’s also not known if any other notable artworks were found during the raid. 

Could this painting really be a long-lost Picasso? Fingers crossed the world will soon get to see the work, if indeed it was worked on by the maestro. 

[via ARTnews and Iraqi News Agency, cover image via Revista Vea y Lea / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)]