Four paintings by French artist seized at Istanbul operation

The Istanbul Directorate of Anti-smuggling and Organized Crime has seized four paintings by French painter Lazar Binenbaum worth nearly 5 million euros.  

The directorate pushed the button for the operation on a notice that the paintings had been put up for sale by a man identified as M.M.S. 

As he was transporting the painting for sale on March 4, the operation began. 

The car the suspect was driving was stopped in Istanbul's Gaziosmanpa?a neighborhood. The police found the four paintings in the baggage of the car and the suspect was taken into custody. 

It was reported that the paintings, sized 65x85, 50x60, 45x60 and 45x65 centimeters, had been smuggled from Moscow during World War II and finally taken to Istanbul. 

The paintings, which have the original signature of the artist, were examined by the Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University and Topkap? Palace officials and their authenticity was confirmed.In Photos: Construction of Istanbul's third suspension bridge nears end In Photos: Two militants killed in operation after attack on Istanbul police stationIn Photos: Turkish police use tear gas, water cannon to disperse protestors in front of Zaman dailyHalfeti - A town of mesmerizing beautyExhibition shows Istanbul through eyes of children Secret weapons of Turkish army: locally produced rocket launchers, missile systemsThe bugs of Ankara: The weirdest scenes that anyone can run into in Turkish capitalA bird's eye view tour of Turkey's eastern provinces of Van and HakkariTurkish man with four wives has his 32nd childTurkish police raid Koza ?pek's media HQ in Istanbul amid protestsTurkey celebrates Republic Day against backdrop of political turbulenceLocal authorities in Ad?yaman stir outcry for sitting under tent as...