On April 11, an art owner told Saanich police that they entrusted the dealer in March with four pieces of fine art, by two renowned Canadian artists, for consignment and potential sale at an art gallery in Oak Bay.
After the gallery recently closed and attempts to contact the art dealer went unanswered, the owner got suspicious.
All of those pieces have an estimated dollar value in the tens of millions, Saanich police said.
“The dealer was taking art from people with the intention of consigning or appraising the art, later ceasing all contact, all the while selling the art without reimbursing the owners or artists,” said Const.
The dealer, whose identity is not being released until charges are approved, was released with several conditions and a court date.