Category: Eurojust

Eurojust has supported the German and Dutch authorities in a coordinated action against an organised crime group (OCG) smuggling mainly Syrian migrants to Germany. In a joint operation, five suspects were arrested in Germany, the Netherlands and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Since 2021, at least 500 migrants have been irregularly transported via the so-called Balkan route. The network itself, however, boasts about much higher numbers of migrants being trafficked and has been advertising these figures on social media. The proceeds from the migrant smuggling are estimated to be at least EUR 1.4 million.

The arrested suspects are all Syrian nationals who arranged the transport of migrants in vehicles over land from Greece to Germany. On average, they asked for a fee of EUR 4 500 per person for the irregular transports. Investigations into the OCG were supported by information obtained via a Eurojust-supported joint investigation team into a similar network, which led to 29 arrests in October and November of last year. 

These investigations also enabled contact with the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where three suspects were taken into custody. Both in Germany and the Netherlands, one suspect was arrested. The OCG members occasionally resorted to severe physical violence and used state-of-the-art communication tools. 

During this week’s coordinated action, four places were searched and a wide range of evidence was seized, including smartphones used in the smuggling activities, as well as various vehicles and small quantities of illicit drugs. Eurojust assisted the German and Dutch authorities in preparing for the action day, including organising seven coordination meetings between all the involved authorities. 

Today’s actions were carried out at the request of and by the following authorities: 

• Germany: Public Prosecutor’s Office (PPO) Weiden; Federal Police Inspection Munich (Bundespolizeiinspektion Kriminalitätsbekämpfung)
• The Netherlands: National PPO; Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (Koninklijke Marechaussee)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina: Special Department for Organised Crime – Economic Crime and Corruption Service of the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina; State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA)

Authorities in Romania and the United Kingdom have taken concerted action to block criminals who illegally withdrew cash from automated teller machines (ATMs) on a large scale. By using specialised computer programs and devices, the Romanian criminal network managed to steal an estimated EUR 580 000. The criminal group was also involved in other types of payment and card fraud. 

During an operation in Romania, two suspects were identified and brought in for questioning. In the UK, prosecutions have already been initiated against eight members of the group, following an action day in December 2024.

Eurojust supported a joint investigation team of the Romanian and British authorities, which investigated the case. The Agency also assisted with the preparation of the action day in Romania. Europol provided data analysis support, in addition to sending an analyst to Romania and organising meetings to prepare for the operations on the ground.

The criminal network was formed last year in the Romanian city of Bacău, mainly consisting of family members and friends. They adopted a derogatory term aimed at the police as their so-called trademark, which they used on social media, on custom license plates and on clothes they wore.

Most of the money was stolen in the UK by pretending to take money from an ATM with a bank card, removing the screen of the ATM and then cancelling the transaction. This allowed them to reach into the ATM itself and take all the cash inside, before ending the transaction.

The criminals also counterfeited public transport cards, which they distributed across the UK with the help of individuals of Turkish origin. Furthermore, they committed card fraud by using software that identifies card numbers and then generates illicit income through fraudulent payments.

The proceeds of the criminal activities were invested in luxury cars, jewellery, real estate and expensive holidays. The gang members being prosecuted in the UK and those brought in for questioning in Romania are suspected of cyber fraud, membership of an organised crime group, money laundering and forgery of payment instruments. 

During the action day in Romania, a total of 18 places were searched and real estate, vehicles electronic devices and cash were seized. 

The operations against the criminal network were carried out at the request of and by the following authorities:

• Romania: Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) – Bacău Regional Service; Romanian Police – Anti Cybercrime Service of Bacău County Organised Crime Brigade
• United Kingdom: Crown Prosecution Service; Eastern Regional Special Operations Unit

Authorities in Romania and the United Kingdom have taken concerted action to block criminals who illegally withdrew cash from automated teller machines (ATMs) on a large scale. By using specialised computer programs and devices, the Romanian criminal network managed to steal an estimated EUR 580 000. The criminal group was also involved in other types of payment and card fraud. 

During an operation in Romania, two suspects were identified and brought in for questioning. In the UK, prosecutions have already been initiated against eight members of the group, following an action day in December 2024.

Eurojust supported a joint investigation team of the Romanian and British authorities, which investigated the case. The Agency also assisted with the preparation of the action day in Romania. Europol provided data analysis support, in addition to sending an analyst to Romania and organising meetings to prepare for the operations on the ground.

The criminal network was formed last year in the Romanian city of Bacău, mainly consisting of family members and friends. They adopted a derogatory term aimed at the police as their so-called trademark, which they used on social media, on custom license plates and on clothes they wore.

Most of the money was stolen in the UK by pretending to take money from an ATM with a bank card, removing the screen of the ATM and then cancelling the transaction. This allowed them to reach into the ATM itself and take all the cash inside, before ending the transaction.

The criminals also counterfeited public transport cards, which they distributed across the UK with the help of individuals of Turkish origin. Furthermore, they committed card fraud by using software that identifies card numbers and then generates illicit income through fraudulent payments.

The proceeds of the criminal activities were invested in luxury cars, jewellery, real estate and expensive holidays. The gang members being prosecuted in the UK and those brought in for questioning in Romania are suspected of cyber fraud, membership of an organised crime group, money laundering and forgery of payment instruments. 

During the action day in Romania, a total of 18 places were searched and real estate, vehicles electronic devices and cash were seized. 

The operations against the criminal network were carried out at the request of and by the following authorities:

• Romania: Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) – Bacău Regional Service; Romanian Police – Anti Cybercrime Service of Bacău County Organised Crime Brigade
• United Kingdom: Crown Prosecution Service; Eastern Regional Special Operations Unit

Following a successful major operation in November 2024 to uncover fake paintings, Eurojust has supported the Italian authorities with a new action to retrieve over one hundred false artworks worldwide. In this recent operation, 104 forged paintings of Picasso, Edvard Munch and Paul Klee were seized and brought to Italy. Eurojust assisted with the execution of European Investigation Orders to Germany and Spain, in order to retrieve the fake artworks and prevent them from being sold in auctions.

In 2022, the Italian Carabinieri’s specialised Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage started investigations into a specific group of forgers, who counterfeited works of the three painters. The Italian-based culprits used a special graphic design program to print images of the originals on matrices. These were then printed on paper with falsified watermarks and copied signatures of the painters.

To give the fakes a semblance of authenticity, the paper for the prints underwent artificial ageing treatments through coffee or tea baths. Accompanied by forged certificates of free circulation, in order to circumvent authenticity controls by experts, the counterfeited artworks were sent to auction houses outside Italy.

The investigations by the Carabinieri Command prevented certain fakes from being sold in Germany and Spain, through auction houses. Without this intervention and the support of Eurojust, the forgers would have gained at least EUR 1 million. The Italian authorities requested the support of Eurojust last year, following the successful previous operation to uncover an estimated 2 000 fake paintings.

The operations were carried out at the request of and by the following authorities:

• Italy: Carabinieri – Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage
• Germany: Public Prosecutor’s Office Stuttgart
• Spain: Investigative Court no. 9 of Barcelona; Mossos d’Esquadra – Central Brigade for Cultural Heritage

Eurojust has assisted the authorities in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Latvia with the apprehension of the alleged perpetrator who was responsible for sending thousands of emails in September last year threatening schools with explosions. The mass threats, which were also sent to other educational institutions and leisure centres, caused major public concern and led to the suspension of classes at the beginning of the school year.

Eurojust supported the national authorities involved by setting up a joint investigation team (JIT) dedicated to the case, as well as providing additional cross-border judicial support.

The alleged perpetrator also used the social network Telegram to spread his threats. He was apprehended in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro last week but was released pending potential further steps to be taken by the authorities.

Given the mass scale of the threats at the same time across three countries, the police authorities involved coordinated their investigations, assisted by the setting up of the JIT. The joint investigative efforts, using the cybercrime expertise of the police, led to the identification of an alleged perpetrator, operating from the Ukrainian city of Dnipro.

With the participation of Czech and Slovak police officers, a joint action took place in Dnipro last week, during which the alleged perpetrator was apprehended and one individual was questioned. Furthermore, two locations were searched, which led to the seizure of computer equipment.

Thanks to the good and close cooperation of all the authorities concerned, the operation was successfully carried out under extremely difficult circumstances, very close to the frontline of the war in Ukraine, with Ukrainian, Czech and Slovak officers exposed to heavy risks.

Eurojust offered support not only through the establishment of the JIT but also by organising a coordination meeting to prepare for the joint action day in Ukraine. The operation was carried out at the request of and by the following authorities:

• Czech Republic: High Public Prosecutor’s Office in Prague; National Counterterrorism, Extremism and Cybercrime Agency (NCTEKK)
• Latvia: Rīga Pārdaugava Prosecution Office; 1st Unit of Cybercrime Enforcement Department of the Central Criminal Police Department of the State Police
• Slovakia: General Prosecutor´s Office of the Slovak Republic; Police Department West, Anti-Crime Unit, Bureau for Combating Organized Crime of the Presidium of the Police Corps (Police ACU); Counter Terrorism Centre, Presidium of the Police Corps
• Ukraine: Dnipropetrovsk regional Prosecutor’s Office; Main Department of National Police in Dnipropetrovsk region; Division for Combating Cybercrime in Dnipropetrovsk region of the Cyber Police Department of National Police of Ukraine

Eurojust hosted Prosecutor Generals from six South Partner Countries – Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Morocco and Palestine*- and nine EU Member States – Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands – to discuss the challenges and best practices in fighting cross-border crimes, with a focus on asset recovery and trafficking in human beings and migrant smuggling. The EuroMed Prosecutor General Forum also endorsed the multi-annual Strategy 2025-2027 with a roadmap for the project’s objectives and priorities.

The project, funded by the European Commission and implemented by Eurojust, aims at enhancing strategic and operational international criminal justice cooperation. The EuroMed Justice project aims at increased opportunities for dialogue and joint actions between relevant EU Member States and the South Partner Countries, as well as increased opportunities for cross-border cooperation in criminal matters between respective judicial authorities. 

The President of Eurojust Michael Schmid opened the Prosecutors General Forum: “It has been a great honour to host the Prosecutors General and senior officials from Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Morocco, and Palestine*. These past days have confirmed the strong potential of our partnerships and a shared commitment to growing our joint casework. With the 2025–2027 EuroMed Justice Strategy now in place, we are eager to expand our network of Liaison Prosecutors at Eurojust and look forward to welcoming representatives from our Southern Partner Countries in the near future. As a first step, we will facilitate study visits to Eurojust to further build mutual trust, deepen understanding, and lay the groundwork for closer cooperation.“

The meeting was chaired by Alexander Van Dam, National Member for the Netherlands, he said: “It is crucial for all countries to work together to combat serious organised crime, through direct exchanges and sharing of best practices.”

The agenda included the project’s results for Year 1 and 2, a presentation from the European Commission on the International Agreements on cooperation with Eurojust, as well as interventions by the Liaison Prosecutors for Serbia and Norway. Participants further exchanged challenges and best practices in judicial cooperation for asset recovery, trafficking in human beings and migrant smuggling. In the margins of the event, South Partner officials met with the  President of Eurojust. The project team also facilitated ten bilateral meetings between the delegations, representatives of Eurojust and the European Commission.

The Forum marked the adoption of the 2025-2027 multi-annual Strategy of the EuroMed Justice project. 

For further information: EuroMed Justice | Eurojust | European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation

* This designation shall not be construed as recognition of a State of Palestine and is without prejudice to the initial positions of the Member States on this issue.