Copenhagen, Denmark – Four suspects arrested in connection with the recovery of a stolen painting by Dutch master Rembrandt van Rijn will soon be extradited to Sweden where they will be prosecuted.
Two Iraqis, a Swede and a Gambian were arrested Thursday in a downtown Copenhagen hotel while allegedly trying to sell the painting that was stolen with two others by Auguste Renoir from Sweden’s National Museum nearly five years ago, police said.
“We are working on getting them extradited to Sweden as soon as possible,” Copenhagen police Superintendent Per Larsen said Monday.
The Rembrandt, a self-portrait from 1630, is estimated to be worth $42 million.
The painting, which Larsen said was unharmed, is expected to be returned to the National Museum.
The arrests last week were the result of a multinational operation that included several U.S. law enforcement agencies, including the Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Posing as an art buyer, an unnamed FBI agent met the suspects in a downtown Copenhagen hotel. They offered to sell him the stolen Rembrandt for only $100,000, police said.
The four have all pleaded not guilty to preliminary charges of handling stolen goods. In Sweden, prosecutor Ronnie Jacob sson said he hoped the men would be handed over this week.
“All four agree to be handed over to Sweden and be prosecuted here,” Jacobsson told Swedish news agency TT.
Tomas Rosander, the consulate general of Sweden in Los Angeles, called the paintings a national treasure. He said most Swedes visit the museum at some point to view the works of art.
