The operation targeted alleged art thieves attempting to sell the painting "Woman Dressing Her Hair" which was stolen from a collector in New York, Anatolia said.
Turkish police, posing as potential buyers, met the prospective sellers at a hotel and then at a yacht in an Istanbul marina, the report revealed.
Novelty comes from peeling paint from canvas, says artist
The suspects are alleged to have initially demanded 8 million dollars for the painting but later settled on 7 million.
The officers then arranged a meeting on Friday at a cafe, where they arrested two people, Anatolia said, citing police sources.
Modigliani nude sells for $170m, second-highest price ever paid at art auction
The woman who appears in the 1940 painting is Dora Maar -- Picasso's lover and longtime muse, who is depicted in grotesque fashion, with sunken ribcage, swollen stomach and enormous feet.
The painting was sent to Istanbul's Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University for examination, Anatolia said.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ