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Stolen Picasso to be returned to France

La Coiffeuse, owned by French state and reported missing in 2001, was smuggled into the US from Belgium last December in a parcel.

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A Picasso painting recovered in New York will be returned to the French government, US officials say, reports the BBC.

The Cubist painting, La Coiffeuse ('The Hairdresser'), was smuggled into the US from Belgium last December in a parcel masquerading as a gift worth $37 (£24).

It was intercepted by US customs and subsequently seized.

Authorities say the 1911 painting, reported to be worth at least £1.6m, disappeared from a storeroom at the Pompidou Centre in Paris.

It was reported missing in November 2001, when gallery officials were unable to locate it following a loan request.

The New York Times reported on 17 December someone named "Robert", with an address in Belgium, shipped the oil painting marked as "Happy Christmas" and labelled as "art craft/toy".

The identity of the person to whom it was sent has not been released.

Read more of this report from the BBC.