Category: Eurojust

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Eurojust focuses on more attention for victims’ rights in cross-border judicial cooperation

Source: Eurojust

Belgian Minister of Justice, Mr Paul Van Tigchelt, said: Without a strong and effective justice system, neither our security nor our freedom, our democracy and our rule of law can be guaranteed. Collaboration is key to achieving better results in the realm of justice. But first and foremost, justice must be done for the victims. This symposium will contribute to enhancing, fostering and further developing the rights and procedural guarantees of those who have fallen victim to crime.

Ms Hilde Vandevoorde, National Member for Belgium at Eurojust and Chair of the Working Group on Victims’ Rights, stated: Eurojust can and must play a pivotal role in minimising the risks associated with the cross-border dimension of cases. Ensuring timely and efficient coordination between the various countries and actors involved will help to safeguard victims’ rights. Via this symposium, we bring together expertise, experience and best practices that we think will benefit victims of crime.

Approximately 15% of all Europeans, or some 75 million EU citizens, fall victim to crime every year. Maintaining, improving and guaranteeing the rights of victims is also one of the priorities of the Belgian EU Presidency in the field of justice and home affairs.

Over the years, Eurojust has paid great attention to the rights of victims of all types of crime across Europe. Through its support to cases, the Agency sees on a daily basis how complex and difficult it can be to protect the victims of crime when different jurisdictions are involved.

The symposium, the first ever organised by Eurojust in this field, brought together a wealth of expertise to address this issue. Practitioners, representatives of the EU Commission and EU agencies such as the Fundamental Rights Agency and the European Institute for Gender Equality shared their experiences.

Other key partners such as the EU Centre of Expertise for Victims of Terrorism and the European Network on Victims’ Rights participated in the Eurojust symposium, which focused on specific groups, such as victims of terrorism, trafficking in human beings, economic crime and cybercrime.

The symposium provided an overview of best practices in EU Member States, with participants recognising the different needs of each victim and the specific challenges posed by the cross-border dimension of cases involving victims of multiple nationalities located in different jurisdictions.

To increase the prominence of victims in the entire judicial process, Eurojust is committed to systemically advising national authorities to consider the role of victims in the judicial process, regardless of their nationality or place of residence.

The symposium showed that by bringing together the prosecutors and judges in charge of cross-border cases involving victims, Eurojust can contribute to greater convergence and coherence of national efforts in this field.

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Crackdown on criminal network that stole 170 historical books worth EUR 2.5 million across Europe

Source: Eurojust

Eurojust and Europol have supported the competent authorities in Lithuania, France, Latvia, Poland, Switzerland and Georgia in an international operation against an organised crime group (OCG) that allegedly stole 170 books of high historical and cultural value across several European countries. The stolen books have an estimated value of EUR 2.5 million and were written by well-known Russian novelists such as Pushkin, Gogol and Lermontov.

Eurojust assisted the authorities in coordinating the actions and in setting up and funding a joint investigation team (JIT) into the case.

The perpetrators, of Georgian origin, are believed to have committed robberies in libraries located in France, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Latvia, Estonia and Switzerland.

The OCG used different modus operandi to steal the books. In some cases, the OCG members used fake identities when ordering books in the libraries, for example presenting themselves as researchers. While one OCG member pretended to consult with the library staff, thereby distracting security, another replaced the original valuable book with a copy.

In other cases, the perpetrators simply broke into the library and stole the books. Before committing the thefts, they visited libraries and checked out books of the same type as the ones stolen.

Eurojust has supported the case since November 2023, assisting the authorities involved in the coordination of their investigations and in the determination of legal strategies. Three coordination meetings were hosted by the Agency to bring together all judicial authorities involved, in order to facilitate their judicial cooperation, and to prepare for the joint action. The Agency also facilitated the setting up of a JIT between France, Lithuania, Poland, Georgia and Switzerland in March 2024. Europol was also a participant in the JIT.

During the action day, a coordination centre was set up at Eurojust connecting simultaneously the different teams in the field in the countries where operations were taking place. The coordination centre enabled rapid cooperation and ensured that evidence and information collected were swiftly exchanged between all national authorities involved.

The coordinated operations led to the arrest of four suspects in Georgia. A total of 27 locations were searched in Georgia and Latvia. One stolen book was recovered and many other books, which have to be examined further, were also seized. Ten witnesses were interviewed and over a hundred police officers and prosecutors were involved in the operation.

With reports of rare and historical books being stolen across Europe, Europol facilitated the information exchange between the affected countries and helped to identify the main suspects. Europol’s analysis during this case helped to create links, identify leads and even uncover a theft that had not yet been discovered. Before supporting the action day, Europol held two operational meetings in its headquarters.

The following authorities took part in this investigation:

  • Estonia: Estonian Prosecutor´s Office; Police and Border Guard Board
  • France: Court of Paris, OCBC (Central Office against Cultural Goods Trafficking)
  • Germany: Public Prosecutor’s Office Munich I, Public Prosecutor’s Office Berlin, Bavarian State Criminal Police Office (BLKA, Division 622), Berlin State Criminal Police Office
  • Latvia: International cooperation Division of the Prosecutor General’s Office; International Cooperation Department of the Central Criminal Police Department of the State Police; Criminal police bureau of the Riga Regional Department of the State Police
  • Lithuania: Vilnius Regional PPO, Vilnius County Police Headquarters
  • Poland: Circuit Prosecutor’s Office in Warsaw
  • Switzerland: Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic and Canton of Geneva; Cantonal police of the Republic and Canton of Geneva
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Assistance in dismantling Pakistani-led migrant smuggling network in Romania, Italy and Austria

Source: Eurojust

Authorities in Romania, Italy and Austria have dismantled a criminal network that abused work visas to smuggle over 500 Pakistani, Bengali and Egyptian migrants to various EU Member States. In total, 12 suspects have been formally identified and will be charged during an action day with the active support by Eurojust and Europol. Eurojust also assisted in setting up and financing a joint investigation team (JIT) into the case.

The migrant smuggling network advertised its services online, but members of the organised crime group (OCG) based in Pakistan also recruited migrants locally. The criminal network started its activities in January 2021 and operated until recently. In the EU, the OCG operated from Romania, Italy and Austria and is estimated to have earned at least EUR 1 million with their illegal activities.

© DIICOT and Politia Romana

The smugglers obtained Romanian work visas for the migrants through a series of linked companies set up for this purpose, and placed them in Bucharest and Brasov. From there they were transported to the border area near Timisoara, from where they were further trafficked to Italy, Austria and Germany. These onward journeys were either by guided passage on foot across the border or in lorries.

Investigations were launched in Romania in August of last year and identified 15 suspects and 5 enterprises set up for the smuggling activities. During the action day, a total of 29 places have been searched and an estimated value of EUR 146,000 in cash was seized.

Eurojust not only assisted in setting up the JIT between Romania, Italy and Europol, but also provided additional cross-border judicial support during the action. Europol provided elaborate analytical support and operational cooperation and facilitated the exchange of information.

The operation on the ground was carried out at the request of and by the following authorities:

  • Romania: Directorate for Investigation of Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) – Brasov Territorial Structure; Brasov Bureau for Combatting Organised Crime
  • Austria: Public Prosecution Office Salzburg; State Criminal Police Office Salzburg
  • Italy: Public Prosecution Office of Udine; Carabinieri, Special Operational Group of Udine Anti-Crime Unit
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Stolen Baroque painting returned to the United Kingdom with support from Eurojust

Source: Eurojust

The handover of the painting took place on 26 March 2024 at the National Museum of Art, Bucharest, between Thames Valley Police, Romanian Police, Christ Church College and the Romanian Ministry of Culture. This was assisted by the National Crime Agency’s International Liaison Network.

The UK authorities are appealing for information about two other paintings stolen in the same raid: ‘A Soldier on Horseback’ by Anthony van Dyck, dating from around 1616, and ‘A Boy Drinking’ by Annibale Carracci, dating from around 1580.

© Thames Valley Police

The Romanian police were contacted by a man in possession of the Rosa painting, who had sold on the other two artworks, which are understood to be somewhere in Europe. He chose to return the Rosa painting to the authorities. The man is being treated as a witness by the Romanian authorities and has not been arrested.

The three works had an estimated value of GBP 10 million (EUR 11.7 million).

The case was opened at Eurojust at the request of the United Kingdom. The Agency helped the national authorities involved to coordinate their investigations and to resolve the legal problems related to the different national laws. Eurojust assisted the UK authorities in drafting a letter of restitution for the Romanian authorities so that the painting could be returned promptly to Oxford Christ Church.

This investigation was also supported by Europol.

The following authorities took part in this investigation:

  • Romania: Public Prosecutor’s Office attached to Ilfov Tribunal (PPO), Romanian Police Directorate for Investigating Economic Crime (IGPR – DICE)
  • United Kingdom: Thames Valley Police, National Crime Agency International Liaison Network
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Practitioners share expertise on battlefield evidence to tackle terrorism and core international crimes

Source: Eurojust

High-level representatives and prosecutors from the United States, the European Union, international organizations, and civil society have been taking stock of the latest developments and cooperation tools for the use of battlefield evidence collected in the context of an armed conflict. During a dedicated expert meeting at Eurojust, specialised prosecutors from the European Union dealing with counter-terrorism were joined for the first time by their counterparts from core international crimes units.

The expert meeting was co-organised by the Eurojust Counter-Terrorism Working Group, the U.S. Department of Justice and the EU Network for the investigation and prosecution of genocide, crimes against impunity and war crimes (Genocide Network). The exchanges over the past two days are of crucial importance to prosecutors of terrorism offences and core international crimes, including war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. Expertise in the use of evidence from past armed conflicts can be used in proceedings related to ongoing and future conflicts.

Commenting on the importance of the meeting, Mr Matthew F. Blue, Chief of the Counterterrorism Section in the National Security Division of the U.S. Department of Justice said: ‘Terrorists and war criminals should have no illusions that they are safe from prosecution when they plot and commit crimes in conflict zones. The United States is committed to ensuring that battlefield evidence is available for use in its domestic cases and those pursued by its European allies. Today’s meeting reaffirms the strong transatlantic commitment to ensuring that this vital tool is effectively harnessed.’

Mr Baudoin Thouvenot, National Member for France and Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Team at Eurojust, stated: ‘We are experiencing challenging times, with a continuing terrorism threat and war at the borders of the EU, and now more than ever, impunity is intolerable. The use of evidence collected on battlefields is a crucial asset in the fight against war crimes, genocide and terrorism. Having the EU and the U.S. judicial authorities working together and sharing expertise sends a strong message on the international scene.’

In view of continued terrorist threats, the fight against terrorism remains high on the EU agenda. Eurojust has been assisting cases against returning Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTFs) and analysing the criminal justice response for some twenty years. A specific focus has been placed on FTFs who travelled to the conflict zone in Syria, but also other areas, to join jihadist terrorist groups.

The complex and dynamic FTF phenomenon has been changing through the years. The support provided by Eurojust has been evolving to ensure that challenges faced by national authorities, including the gathering and admissibility of evidence, e-evidence and financial investigations, are addressed and national efforts are strengthened by solid multilateral cooperation and coordination.

Battlefield evidence plays a key role in such cases. Such evidence may include registration forms, photos depicting crimes committed against civilians, fingerprints on explosive devices and e-mails describing terrorist plots. This evidence can demonstrate the operational workings and command structures of terrorist organisations, including the role of specific suspects and their associates. Battlefield evidence also can assist in assessing the intent and policies of different terrorist organisations operating in the EU, U.S. and globally.

Battlefield evidence is also crucial to build cases that go beyond the prosecution of membership and financing of terrorism to also entail core international crimes. Some FTFs may be prosecuted for both sets of crimes cumulatively. For example, battlefield evidence shared by U.S. authorities and other partners such as the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/ISIL (UNITAD), whose mandate will come to an end in September 2024, has strongly supported EU prosecutors to obtain cumulative convictions against FTFs on terrorism and core international crimes charges. This for instance has led to a higher level of sentencing of FTFs who were involved with Da’esh/ISIL in crimes against Yezidi victims.

The expert meeting at Eurojust is another milestone in the long-standing cooperation between Eurojust and U.S. authorities on enhancing the access and use of battlefield evidence. It provided a platform for the sharing of challenges and best practice amongst practitioners, which is key to overcoming legal and practical hurdles in ongoing and future criminal cases. It demonstrated information and evidence sharing between EU, U.S. and international partners is of prime importance in investigating and prosecuting alleged FTFs and has proved to be successful in the past.

In joining forces, Eurojust, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Genocide Network have laid the foundation for a community of practice between prosecutors from diverse backgrounds, from all over the EU and partner countries. The expertise is essential to strengthen capacities and foster further cooperation in present and future investigations and prosecutions concerning crimes committed in conflict areas.

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Eurojust helps tackle massive fraud of EUR 645 million with medicinal cannabis plants across Europe

Source: Eurojust

In Germany, France and Spain alone, over 4 500 victims have lodged formal complaints against the fraudsters, who set up a crowd-funding programme to raise a minimum of EUR 50 per investor for the development of medicinal cannabis plants. In reality, no cannabis plants were ever bought, although the organisers of the scheme pretended to work with legitimate and licensed enterprises that would cultivate them. The fraud ran from at least January 2020 to July 2022.

The entire scheme had the character of a pyramid or ‘Ponzi fraud’ and promised extremely high returns on investment. Investigations in Germany and Spain, later followed by counterparts in other countries across Europe, showed that investors had been only partially paid.

Most of the invested money was used to pay affiliates, keep the scheme running and expand the fraud through extensive online campaigns. For this purpose and to launder the proceeds, a web of international enterprises was used. The scheme itself appears to have been run by a Russian criminal network, with an affiliated German-based crime group.

Victims in Germany and Spain claim to have lost at least EUR 51.5 million, but the total investment is estimated to be close to EUR 645 million. In total, around 550 000 participants worldwide were registered as online investors, most of them European citizens. Around 186 000 participants transferred funds, either via cryptocurrencies or bank transfers.

Since 2022, Eurojust has been extensively supporting the national authorities, including assisting the German, Spanish and French authorities in setting up and funding the JIT. This led to a successful Joint Action Day coordinated at Eurojust.

At the request of the German and Spanish authorities, in recent days operational actions against the criminal networks were also carried out in Estonia, Latvia, Italy, Malta, Poland, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the Dominican Republic. The French authorities made a decisive contribution to the analysis of crypto flows during the investigations and took part in searches in Germany and Spain on the action day.

Europol supported this massive cross-border investigation from the outset, taking the lead in operational coordination and providing tailored analytical support. Furthermore, Europol shared results of the financial investigations as well as other intelligence with the involved countries. On the action day, Europol deployed officers with mobile offices to various locations worldwide.

During the action days, over thirty places were also searched and for several millions of Euros in crypto assets and bank accounts were frozen. Also real estate properties, luxury vehicles, artwork, cash and various luxury items were seized, as well as large numbers of electronic devices and documents.

The operations were carried out on the ground at request of and by:

  • Germany: Public Prosecutor’s Office Berlin; Criminal Investigation Department Berlin (LKA)
  • Spain: Central Investigative Judge no. 6 at the Audiencia Nacional; National Police (Policia Nacional – UDEF Central Brigade against Economic Crime, Financial Fraud Group)
  • France: Paris’ Prosecutor’s Office JUNALCO (National Jurisdiction against Organised Crime); Gendarmerie Nationale (Research Section Rennes)
  • Estonia: Office of the Prosecutor General; Police and Border Guard Board
  • Latvia: Prosecutor General’s Office; International Cooperation Department and Economic Crime Enforcement Department of the Central Criminal Police Department of the State Police
  • Italy: Postal Police Service of the National Police – Operational Section for Cyber Security, Macerata, and Operational Centre for Cybersecurity of Marche
  • Malta: Malta Police Force – International Relations Unit
  • Poland: Public Prosecutor’s Offices of Jelenia Góra, Lublin, Warsaw, Warsaw Praga and Wrocław; Central Bureau for Combating Cybercrime
  • Portugal: Central Public Prosecutor’s Office Lisbon (DCIAP); Judicial Police (Policia Judiciária)United Kingdom: National Crime Agency
  • United Kingdom: National Crime Agency
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Crackdown on criminal network that used minors and women for street begging in Portugal

Source: Eurojust

Supported by Eurojust and Europol, judicial and law enforcement authorities in Portugal and Romania have dismantled an organised crime group involved in human trafficking, qualified fraud and money laundering. The suspects allegedly transported Romanian citizens, mostly minors and women, to Portugal and used them to beg for a fictitious association, posing as deaf-mute children and young people.

The criminal network is believed to have made a profit of over EUR 230,000 from this criminal activity.

During a joint action on 11-14 March, the Portuguese and Romanian authorities carried out six house searches, interrogated three defendants and interviewed five witnesses in Romania. Eight more suspects were interrogated in the weeks following the operation. At least thirty victims were identified and brought to safety.

Eurojust assisted the Portuguese and Romanian authorities in setting up and funding a joint investigation team into the case in April 2023. The Agency organised and hosted two coordination meetings to facilitate judicial cooperation and prepare for the joint action.

Europol facilitated the exchange of information between the different law enforcement authorities involved.

The following authorities took part in this investigation:

  • Portugal: Porto Public Prosecution Office; Porto Public Security Police
  • Romania: Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism – Central Structure (PPO); Service for Combating Organised Crime Ialomita (police)
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Eurojust hosts European Commission event to increase coordination in fight against wildlife trafficking

Source: Eurojust

On 11-12 April 2024, the 46th Meeting of the EU Wildlife Trade Enforcement Group took place at Eurojust headquarters in The Hague. The event, which was organised by the European Commission’s DG Environment, brought together key stakeholders working to fight back against wildlife trafficking.

The illegal trade in protected wildlife species has become one of the most profitable criminal activities, with devastating effects on the environment, animal populations, human health and the global economy. Often, it also acts as a catalyst for other serious crimes, such as fraud, forgery of documents, and money laundering. For this reason, a joint approach between a diverse range of stakeholders is necessary to effectively prevent, detect, investigate and prosecute these crimes.

Participants of this event included representatives of national administrative, law enforcement and judicial authorities, as well as EU agencies (OLAF, Europol and Eurojust) and international organisations (Interpol, UNODC, WCO), as well as, for specific agenda items, non-governmental organisations (WWF, TRAFFIC, GI-TOC, IFAW). Over the course of the 2-day event they received updates on legislative initiatives and policy developments, presented the outcome of recent cases, and exchanged views on best practices for detection, investigation and cross-border cooperation.

About the EU Wildlife Trade Enforcement Group

The Group, chaired by the European Commission, gathers representatives of Member States authorities competent to enforce and implement the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), provisions of which are incorporated into the EU and national law. To learn more about how the EU is tackling illegal wildlife trade, visit the European Commission’s website.

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Five criminals behind multi-million pound benefit fraud convicted in the United Kingdom with support from Eurojust

Source: Eurojust

Five members of an organised crime group (OCG) responsible for the largest ever fraud against the United Kingdom benefit system have been convicted. The suspects, all Bulgarian nationals, have pleaded guilty to fraud and money laundering offences at the Wood Green Crown Court. The damage caused by the scam is estimated at more than GBP 50 million (EUR 58 million).

The Agency supported the case and assisted the UK and Bulgarian authorities in setting up and funding a joint investigation team (JIT) into the case.

Between October 2016 and May 2021, the OCG made thousands of false claims for Universal Credit (UK social security payment) using either real people or hijacked identities. These claims were supported by an array of forged documents, including fictitious tenancy agreements, counterfeit payslips and forged letters from landlords, employers and GPs. If the claims were rejected, the fraudsters would try again and again until they were granted.

The money gained from these fraudulent claims was then laundered by moving it between several accounts through numerous transfers.

In some cases, the OCG leaders recruited people from Bulgaria, obtained their identity documents and paid them a share of the proceeds from the false benefit claims made on their behalf. The recruits then returned to Bulgaria with the proceeds of their crimes, which alerted the Bulgarian authorities.

The suspects were first arrested in the United Kingdom on 5 May 2021. Following his release under investigation, one of the five defendants fled to Bulgaria. As a result of collaborative work between the UK and Bulgarian authorities, the suspect was extradited back to the United Kingdom on 25 February 2023 to face justice.

The case was opened at Eurojust in June 2021 at the request of the UK authorities. Two coordination meetings were hosted by the Agency to coordinate the national investigations and discuss judicial cooperation matters, including the surrender of suspects and asset recovery.

A JIT was set up between the UK and Bulgarian authorities with the support of Eurojust in January 2022. The JIT has enabled the direct exchange of evidence between authorities, especially banking evidence, to support the recovery and confiscation of assets.

The following authorities took part in this investigation:

  • Bulgaria: District Prosecutor’s Office- Sliven
  • United Kingdom: Crown Prosecution Service, Department for Work and Pensions
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Eurojust assists with taking down of drug trafficking ring involved in killing of rivals in Greece

Source: Eurojust

Eurojust has supported the Greek and Serbian authorities in dismantling a drug trafficking network allegedly involved in the murder of four members of a rival gang in Greece. In total, ten suspects were arrested in Serbia, Greece and Spain for the murders, which took place in 2020. Eurojust also supported and funded a joint investigation team (JIT) between Greece and Serbia to dismantle the organised crime group (OCG).

The OCG was based in the Western Balkans and was mainly involved in large-scale drug trafficking. It faced a split within its own organisation in 2014, with a rival group being set up in Greece. This split in the OCG led to a series of murder attempts and killings across Europe. Four members of the Greek-based criminal network were killed in 2020 on Corfu and in Vari on the mainland of Greece.

Investigations by both the Greek and Serbian authorities detected links to the original OCG. In 2023, Eurojust assisted the Greek and Serbian authorities in setting up and funding the JIT into the OCG in the Western Balkans. The Agency also assisted national authorities to prepare, at police level and under the supervision of prosecutors, the concerted actions in recent weeks to dismantle the criminal network.

Europol has been supporting the investigation since April 2021 and brought together the Greek and Serbian investigators to establish a joint strategy and prepare for the final day of action. Europol’s Serious Organised Crime Centre carried out extensive operational analysis to identify the entire organisation responsible for the homicides. Greek investigators were also deployed to Europol’s headquarters to develop the intelligence on their key targets.

In total, 39 suspects have been identified, including the ten detained persons. The authorities involved will now coordinate further judicial action against the OCG members based in the Western Balkans.

The actions on the ground were carried out by and at request of the following authorities:

  • Greece: Department of Extradition and Judicial Assistance of the Public Prosecutor’s Office (PPO) of the Court of Appeals Athens; PPO of First Instance Court Athens; Department of Crimes Against Life and Personal Liberty of Attica Security Directorate
  • Serbia: Public Prosecutor’s Office for Organised Crime; Ministry of Interior, Police Directorate, Service for Combatting Organised Crime; Security Intelligence Agency