This isn't true, and also makes no sense. (How would he have paid taxes? What money would the police have seized?) Speaking from first-hand experience, there's a significant community of collectors who like and will buy Shvembldr's work.

How did he pay millions in taxes with money he sent back?

It's not money laundering and I don't think it breaks any laws.

...how did he end up with 8.7M EUR if he sent this money back?

Why would you assume this ?

> the usual scheme

That's the thing about scams. You don't have to listen to a word of anybody's rationalizations about these kinds of things. You just look at the money flows. If it banks like a scam, it's a scam, end of story.