Category: Eurojust

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Eurojust supports authorities in dismantling EUR 113 million fraudulent investment scheme

Source: Eurojust

A fraudulent pyramid scheme was taken down by authorities from Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Czechia, Lithuania and Liechtenstein, with the support of Eurojust and Europol. The organised crime group (OCG) used an investment model that focused on the leasing and subleasing of cryptocurrency machines, such as exchange machines and hardware for mining. The suspects were able to target thousands of victims, causing losses of up to EUR 113 million. During an action day on 11 June, six arrests were made, 29 searches were conducted and the suspects’ assets were frozen.

The advertised investment concept involved the leasing of cryptocurrency products, such as investments in server storage for internet cloud services and the subleasing of crypto exchange machines. The suspects promised returns of 70% before tax to those joining the scheme. Investigations by German authorities showed that the promised returns were not only unrealistic, but also impossible, as the leased equipment and systems allegedly did not exist.

As the promised investment scheme did not exist as advertised, the suspects created a pyramid scheme, where most of the revenue for earlier investors came from more recent investors. The funds collected were not used for the promised investments, but mainly for the suspects’ living expenses. Throughout the scheme, the suspects concluded thousands of contracts, earning up to EUR 113 million.

As soon as the fraudulent scheme was discovered by German authorities, two coordination meetings were held at Eurojust to exchange information and evidence with authorities from Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Czechia, Lithuania and Liechtenstein. To ensure a continued smooth cooperation, a joint investigation team (JIT) between German and Swiss authorities was set up with the support of Eurojust.

The cooperation between authorities resulted in an action day on 11 June, with the involvement of over 280 officers on the ground. The actions resulted in six arrests, 29 searches, the seizing of evidence, and the freezing of several assets. Due to the coordination between the authorities, and the use of Eurojust’s facilities, simultaneous actions were carried out in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Czechia, Lithuania and Liechtenstein.

The following authorities were involved in the operation:

  • Germany: Public Prosecutor`s Office Erfurt, Criminal State Investigation Office Thuringia
  • Switzerland: Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Canton of Zurich
  • Austria: Central Public Prosecutor`s Office for Combating Economic Crimes and Corruption
  • Czechia: Municipal Public Prosecutor´s Office in Prague; Regional Directorate of Police of the Capital City of Prague
  • Lithuania: Vilnius Regional Prosecutor’s Office
  • Liechtenstein: Princely Court of Justice of Liechtenstein
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New report on encryption in criminal matters stresses balance between security and privacy

Source: Eurojust

The report gives an overview of the use of encrypted communication tools such as EncroChat and SkyECC by criminal networks and analyses the topic of encryption from a legal, technical, policy and research point of view. The publication also touches on specific judicial processes and court rulings.

Furthermore, the new report includes an elaborate analysis of the recent ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union of 30 April this year on encrypted communications. This ruling clarifies the conditions for EU Member States to request and transmit intercepted data from encrypted communication channels for use as evidence in criminal proceedings, in order to safeguard fundamental rights and enable continued investigations into criminal activities.

The publication also provides technical information on new developments and tools such as quantum computing, cryptocurrencies, biometric data, telecommunications and artificial intelligence. It also presents an overview of the challenges and opportunities they represent for judicial and law enforcement authorities.

The main ideas in the conclusions and recommendations are:

  • Introducing legal frameworks for lawful access to data and the use of encrypted communications in judicial proceedings is paramount for achieving the right balance between privacy and security.
  • Further research and monitoring of technologies using cryptography, such as telecommunications (5G, 6G networks), biometrics, DNS, the blockchain and quantum computing, are needed to ensure both lawful access to data and privacy.
  • Collaboration with academia and private industry is essential for the creation of new tools to both serve criminal investigations without compromising the overall security of communications.
  • Artificial intelligence solutions can both help and hinder efforts to fight serious and organised crime, requiring a multi-faceted and collaborative approach.
  • While quantum computing can significantly improve investigations, it also poses a significant threat to encryption, requiring a swift transition to post-quantum cryptography.

The report is the result of the pooling of expertise of all partners collaborating in the EU Innovation Hub for Internal Security, hosted at Europol, including the EU Agencies CEPOL, EIGE, EUAA, Eurojust, Europol, Frontex, FRA and the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union (including the EU Counterterrorism Coordinator’s Office), as well as the European Commission (Directorate Generals JRC and Home).

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Eurojust assists in uncovering a high-level corruption scheme

Source: Eurojust

It is believed that with their bribes, the fugitives with a Red Notice attempted to obtain asylum or refugee seeker status in Moldova or other countries in an effort to delete or block a Red Notice. Moreover, the suspects sought information about their INTERPOL Red Notice to try and avoid detection. A Red Notice is a request to law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate an individual for extradition, surrender or other legal action.

Effective and quick international cooperation was key to putting a stop to the corruption scheme. INTERPOL, the International Criminal Police Organization based in France, alerted the French authorities about the possible corruption scheme and the bribes taking place in Moldova. Eurojust’s support was instrumental in ensuring that French and Moldovan authorities were able to work together rapidly.

A joint investigation team was set up at Eurojust between French and Moldovan authorities during a coordination meeting at the Agency. This enabled the authorities to exchange information and evidence, determine the judicial strategy and carry out joint operations. Authorities from the United Kingdom supported the operation by providing important information on the suspects after linking the operation to a separate investigation into an international cybercrime network.

On 4 June, an action day took place in Moldova, during wich search warrants were executed for 12 persons in 33 locations. Mobile phones, laptops, computers and other items and documents were seized during the operation, which received grants from Eurojust’s funding programme for joint investigation teams. Four people were detained for up to 72 hours. On 5 June, a high-level official was arrested for 30 days at the request of the Moldovan prosecutor.

The operation was carried out by the following authorities:

  • France: National Financial Prosecutor’s Office; OCLCIFF (Central Anti-Corruption Office within the French National Police)
  • Moldova: Anti-corruption Prosecution Office
  • United Kingdom: National Crime Agency
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Chief Prosecutors of the Western Balkans strengthen cooperation to fight cross-border crime

Source: Eurojust

The Consultative Forum of General and Special Chief Prosecutors of the Western Balkan region called for enhanced regional cooperation and encouraged exchanges between the Western Balkan Partners, reaffirming their common goals in the fight against organised crime, and outlining the role Eurojust can play in supporting them.

During his opening remarks, Eurojust President, Mr Ladislav Hamran, highlighted: ‘Our partners in the Western Balkans are critically important for Eurojust. The ever increasing caseload, which in 2023 stood at 708 investigations in which prosecutors and judges from across the Western Balkans were involved, confirms the potential of our cooperation. Together with the help of the EU’s Western Balkans Criminal Justice Project, I look forward to our partners’ further integration in the EU security chain.’

The Forum was organised in the context of the WBCJ project, implemented by Eurojust. The WBCJ aims to strengthen cross-border cooperation in criminal matters within the Western Balkans and with the European Union. The project provides support to cross-border investigations through financial assistance, knowledge sharing, technical assistance and capacity building activities at Eurojust and in the region.

Since the project’s start in September 2022, seven cross-border cases have been supported in the Western Balkans, including four joint investigation teams. The cases mainly concerned drug trafficking, money laundering and money counterfeiting. Moreover, the project also supported 13 cases between Western Balkan partners and EU Member States.

Supreme State Prosecutor of Montenegro Milorad Marković, co-organiser of the Regional Consultative Forum, commented on the joint challenge of eradicating organised crime in the region: ‘We will achieve this goal faster and easier by improving mutual cooperation and cooperation with international partners, such as Eurojust. This cooperation must be direct, fast and simple, free from often lengthy bureaucratic procedures. I am convinced that all of us gathered here share this commitment.’

The WBCJ project also encourages knowledge sharing between judicial authorities. Several events have been organised in the region on encrypted messages, migrant smuggling and the prosecution of foreign terrorist fighters. These events ensure that prosecutors are equipped with the right knowledge for their investigations. 

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EuroMed Justice project organised its 19th CrimEx and 3rd EMJNet meetings in the Hague

Source: Eurojust

Under the framework of the 6th phase of the EuroMed Justice (EMJ) project, the 19th CrimEx and the 3rd EMJNet meetings were held on 29 and 30 May in a hybrid format at the Eurojust premises in the Hague. Criminal justice representatives from the EU South Partner Countries (SPCs) and the European Union Member States (EU MS) gathered to discuss and to identify common challenges and responses to strengthen international judicial cooperation in criminal matters.

On 29 May, SPCs and EU MS Country Representatives participated in the CrimEx meeting and had the opportunity to exchange on the technical challenges related to the Euro-Mediterranean judicial cooperation in criminal matters. Participants were invited to report and exchange on their national priorities on serious and organised crime. They also benefited from the experiences that shared from Spain in relation to Trafficking of Human Beings (THB) and the Netherlands in relation to Confiscations and Assets Recovery.

On 30 May, judicial practitioners from SPCs and EU MS reported and exchanged on the cooperation challenges at the national, regional and international levels in relation to operational judicial cooperation. The EMJ team presented the vision for the role and the functioning of the EMJNet in the 6th phase of the project.

The meetings were chaired by the National Members for France and Spain who steered discussions between participants, shared their experience as National Members and presented the Eurojust operational cooperation with third countries, including the role of Eurojust Contact Points.

During both days bilateral meetings (SPCs/EU MS – SPCs/SPCs) were organised including with Eurojust Representatives.

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Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina highlights importance of cross-border judicial cooperation at Eurojust

Source: Eurojust

Almir Šahović, Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, H.E. Mr Denis Bećirović, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Mr Ladislav Hamran, President of Eurojust

During his visit to the Agency, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, H.E. Mr Denis Bećirović, said: ’Today, I was delighted to visit Eurojust and to meet with President Ladislav Hamran, to whom I extended my gratitude for the warm welcome. It was an opportunity to once again underline Bosnia and Herzegovina’s strong commitment to further strengthening our cooperation with Eurojust. ’

The Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Eurojust President highlighted the importance of cross-border collaboration to ensure the prosecution of complex crimes. Over the past years, judicial cooperation between authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Eurojust has steadily increased. Through ongoing projects and upcoming outreach events in the country, it is expected that the cooperation will continue to intensify.

The Chairman of the Presidency’s visit acknowledged the importance of the ongoing conclusion of an international agreement with Bosnia and Herzegovina to strengthen cooperation. The agreement will enable the country to post a Liaison Prosecutor at Eurojust and access the Agency’s operational tools.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has been involved in the WBCJ since the project’s start in September 2022. WBCJ provides Western Balkan partners with technical support to strengthen operational cooperation among them and with the European Union. So far, WBCJ has supported authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina with four cross-border cases related to drug trafficking and corruption.

Eurojust President Mr Ladislav Hamran stated: ‘Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is a critical partner in the Western Balkans region and today’s meeting reaffirms our commitment to ever closer cooperation. We agreed that the forthcoming international agreement on cooperation which will allow for a BiH Liaison Prosecutor at Eurojust will serve the best interests of both our sides and will strengthen Bosnia and Herzegovina’s further integration in the EU’s security chain. ’

As a facilitator of cross-border judicial cooperation, Eurojust is pivotal in promoting effective working relationships between national authorities of Member States and non-EU countries. Relying on its unique expertise, partnerships and modern digital tools, Eurojust ensures that national borders are no obstacle to prosecuting crime and serving justice.

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Successful operation against cryptocurrency scam coordinated by Eurojust

Source: Eurojust

A coordinated operation to uncover an intricate cryptocurrency scam led to the arrest of a suspect in France. The investigation in Portugal, France, Germany, Italy and Romania, supported by Eurojust and Europol, revealed that the suspects were using a scam method known as ‘rip deals’ that caused losses of EUR 700 000 to Portuguese victims.

Scammers using the ’rip deal’ method trick their victims into exchanging money via a fraudulent money exchange programme, which they then use to steal the victim’s assets.

Investigations revealed that the suspects scammed victims across Europe, including in Austria, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland. The suspects would approach their victims by expressing an interest in acquiring commercial businesses. After gaining their trust and convincing them to install crypto asset wallets, the suspects would steal the victim’s funds.

In the next phase of the scam, other members of the organised crime group would launder the proceeds of the fraud by moving them through several crypto assets. This made it difficult to trace the proceeds.

The investigation, spanning several years, culminated in an action day supported by Eurojust and Europol. During the operation, carried out simultaneously in France, Germany, Italy, and Romania, one suspect was arrested and several houses were searched. Authorities froze multiple bank accounts and seized material goods such as equipment containing information on the scam.

Eurojust supported the investigation by enabling cooperation between the countries involved in the operation. The coordination meeting at Eurojust helped the authorities to exchange information and prepare for the action day. Additionally, Eurojust supported the execution of European Investigation Orders (EIOs), European Arrest Warrants (EAWs), and freezing orders.

The following authorities were involved in the coordinated operation:

  • Portugal: Regional Department for Criminal Investigation and Prosecution of Coimbra; Judicial Police
  • France: Judiciary Tribunal of Bobigny; National Police 93
  • Germany: Public Prosecutor’s Office Darmstadt; ZK32 at Criminal Directorate Offenbach, Southeast Hesse Police
  • Italy: Public Prosecutor Office in Milan; Italian State Police – Cyber Security Operations Centre “Lombardia” in Milan
  • Romania: Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism – Territorial Structure Timișoara; Romanian Police, Office of Combating Organised Crime Timisoara – Unit Combating Informatics Crimes.
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Network of luxury car thieves dismantled with support of Eurojust

Source: Eurojust

A large-scale ring of luxury car thieves has been dismantled with the support of Eurojust and Europol. Using straw men and underprivileged people, the criminals hired or leased luxury vehicles, which they later registered in their own names through corrupt connections in official institutions.

The cars were resold outside the EU, including in the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates. In a series of recent coordinated actions in Spain, France, Germany, Latvia, Poland and Ukraine, 13 suspects were arrested for fraud, forgery and money laundering.

© – Ukrainian National Police

Through a coordination centre at Eurojust, over sixty places were also searched by national authorities. Several luxury vehicles, communication equipment and documents were seized, as well as over EUR 100 000 in cash.

The Spanish authorities launched their investigation in 2022 following reports of luxury cars going missing from legitimately operating car rental and lease companies in and around Malaga. These investigations revealed that dozens of vehicles were ultimately stolen across Europe by a network of linked criminals. They exploited around fifty vulnerable and underprivileged people by using their documents, such as driving licences and passports, to hire or lease luxury cars.

Through corrupt contacts in official institutions, they managed to register the hired vehicles on to their personal documents, so they could sell them in the European Union and beyond, including Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates. Some of the stolen vehicles were transported in containers to conceal the cars.

Investigations were later also started in France, Poland and Ukraine, which revealed links between different criminal groups using the same modus operandi. In March of this year, with the support and funding of Eurojust, authorities in France, Spain and Ukraine set up a joint investigation team into the car thefts. Eurojust also organised two preparatory coordination meetings to prepare for the recent action day week and set up the coordination centre.

Europol assisted the operations against the criminal network by producing criminal intelligence packages. It also provided an operational coordination centre to support the actions at police level.

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

  • Spain: Investigative Court no. 1, Málaga; Public Prosecutor’s Office, Málaga; Spanish National Police
  • France: Judiciary Tribunal, Grasse; National Gendarmerie, Central Office against Roving Crime (OCDLI)
  • Germany: Public Prosecutor’s Offices Essen and Osnabrück; Police Departments of Essen and Osnabrück
  • Latvia: 3rd Unit International Cooperation Department State Police
  • Poland: Public Prosecutor’s Office, Warsaw
  • Ukraine: Prosecutor General’s Office; Main Investigation Department and Department of Strategic Investigations of National Police
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Eurojust continues to champion the EU’s judicial response to the war in Ukraine, says Agency’s Annual Report 2023

Source: Eurojust

2023 saw the launch of Eurojust’s Core International Crimes Evidence Database (CICED) and the International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression Against Ukraine (ICPA). These unique mechanisms support the crucial work of the joint investigation team (JIT) into alleged core international crimes committed in Ukraine, and are game-changers in ensuring accountability for the atrocities of Russia’s war of aggression.

Eurojust’s Digital Criminal Justice Programme, also initiated in 2023, enables faster and closer collaboration between the Agency, Member States, partners and third countries, facilitating justice across borders.

In 2023, the call on Eurojust far exceeded the fight against serious and organised crime, as it continued to take on an important role in the European Union’s judicial response to the war of aggression against Ukraine, stated Věra Jourová, Vice-President of the European Commission and European Commissioner for Values and Transparency. The fight for human values and against lawlessness is one in which we all have a role to play, and I welcome Eurojust’s many efforts in 2023 in turning legislation and policies into practice.

While Eurojust’s work in 2023 continued to have a strong focus on supporting Member States’ and partners’ judicial response to the war in Ukraine, at the same time, the Agency fully delivered on its mandate to fight all serious cross-border crimes, handling more than 13 000 cases. Eurojust’s casework increased by 14% in 2023 compared to 2022.

The Agency contributed to the arrest of more than 4 200 suspects and the seizure and freezing of criminal assets worth over EUR 1 billion. Eurojust also contributed to the seizure of drugs worth almost EUR 26 billion, which represents more than double the amount it helped seize in 2022.

Reflecting the growing scale of the challenge, the number of victims affected by the cases handled by the Agency in 2023 increased by 12%, as did the number of cases involving organised crime groups. In 2023, Eurojust supported 9% more joint investigation teams than in 2022, illustrating national authorities’ trust in and reliance on the Agency’s services to facilitate judicial cooperation.

Eurojust President, Ladislav Hamran, commented: These figures bear witness to the ever-growing international dimension of organised crime and to the added value Eurojust and its work represent to judicial professionals not just in the European Union, but increasingly in partner countries also.

Eurojust’s international cooperation continued to lead to an increasing number of registered cases, with more than 700 cases involving one or more third countries. The United Kingdom was the third country with the highest number of Eurojust cases in 2023 (275), followed by Switzerland, Albania, Serbia and Ukraine.

The Agency’s Contact Points in countries outside the EU also continued to grow, with Chad, Ghana, Togo, The Gambia, Tajikistan, Philippines, Mozambique, Kyrgyzstan and Kuwait joining Eurojust’s 72-strong country network in 2023. Eurojust continued its excellent cooperation with South Partner Countries in the EuroMed Justice Programme, as well as Western Balkan countries in the Western Balkans Criminal Justice Project.

The top three crime types handled by the Agency in 2023 were once again swindling and fraud, drug trafficking and money laundering. A significantly higher number of new cases were referred to the Agency in 2023 compared to 2022 in the areas of environmental crime (64%) and cybercrime (43%), although the overall number of cases referred to Eurojust in the former category remains low. Conversely, the number of new cases referred to Eurojust in 2023 concerning trafficking in human beings decreased by 8% compared to 2022.

The Agency continued to serve judicial authorities in Member States by organising 579 international coordination meetings and 22 action days, as well as providing operational support to almost 300 JITs (46% of which were funded by Eurojust). These services, together with assistance in executing judicial cooperation instruments (such as European Arrest Warrants and European Investigation Orders) enabled national judicial authorities to achieve impressive on-the-ground results across key crime areas in 2023.

More information:

Eurojust Annual Report 2023:

Key visuals:

Eurojust’s response to the war in Ukraine:

Justice Done cases in 2023:

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Major operation to take down dangerous malware systems

Source: Eurojust

In an unprecedented operation against aggressive and dangerous computer malware, authorities in the European Union and beyond have taken actions against droppers including IcedID, Pikabot, Smokeloader, Bumblebee and Trickbot, which infiltrated computers via emails. The measures focused on disrupting criminal services through arresting suspects, the freezing of illegal proceeds, and taking down botnets, coordinated by Eurojust. The operation, which was carried out this week with support of Europol, is a follow up to the successful takedown of the Emotet malware system in 2021.

During actions carried out simultaneously in Germany, the Netherlands, France, Denmark, Ukraine, the United States and United Kingdom, 4 suspects were arrested, who offered the malware as a professional blackmail service to other criminal actors. Some of the suspects were involved in operating Emotet in the past.

Via so called ‘sinkholing’ techniques or the use of tools to access the systems of operators behind the malware, investigators managed to block and take down the botnets. Malware droppers are types of malicious software which downloads viruses, ransomware or spyware on computers. They are generally installed via mails with infected links or Word and PDF attachments, such as shipping invoices or order forms, to get access to personal data and or bank accounts of computer users.

Mainly enterprises and national authorities and institutions were made victims of the series of malware systems which now have been taken down. Users are warned to be careful when opening links and attachments to mails and check the origin of mails.

The investigations, which have been ongoing since the takedown of Emotet, also focused on the running of that malware itself as their operators did create the new botnets mentioned. During the coordinated actions 16 places were searched.

In total over 100 servers were taken down or disrupted and over 2 000 domains are under control of law enforcement authorities.

Furthermore, investigations showed that one of the main suspects has earned at least EUR 69 million in cryptocurrency by renting out criminal infrastructure for the deployment of ransomware. The transactions are constantly being monitored and legal permission to seize these assets instantly through future actions has already been obtained.

Eurojust set up a coordination centre on its premises to manage simultaneous actions in all countries concerned. The Agency also assisted national authorities in the preparation and execution of European Arrest Warrants, European Investigation Orders and requests for Mutual Legal Assistance, and organized five coordination meetings.

The following national authorities were involved in the operations on the ground:

  • Germany: Prosecutor General’s Office Frankfurt am Main – Cyber Crime Center; Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt)
  • The Netherlands: National Prosecution Service; National Police
  • Austria: Public Prosecutor’s Office of Salzburg; Criminal Intelligence Service Austria (Bundeskriminalamt)
  • Denmark: National Special Crime Unit (NSK)
  • France: Prosecutor’s Office JUNALCO (National Jurisdiction against Organised Crime) Cybercrime Unit; Gendarmerie Nationale C3N
  • Ukraine: Prosecutor General’s Office; Main Investigation Department of National Police of Ukraine; Cyber Department of the Security Service of Ukraine
  • United Kingdom: National Crime Agency
  • United States: United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, The Defense Criminal Investigative Service