Category: Eurojust

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First Liaison Prosecutor for Iceland starts at Eurojust

Source: Eurojust

Marking the start of her mandate of three and a half years at Eurojust, Ms Kolbrún Benediktsdóttir stated: ‘I´m honoured and excited to join Eurojust as the first Liaison Prosecutor from Iceland. It is a very important step for Iceland and I´m sure that it will prove to be essential when it comes to prosecuting cross-border and organised crimes.’

From 2016 until her seconding to Eurojust, Ms Benediktsdóttir worked as Deputy District Prosecutor. In this capacity, she was in charge of the department dealing with police corruption, and a member of Nordic and European cooperation in the same field. Furthermore, she was the administrator for the department for violent crimes, sexual offences, and drug and human trafficking. Between 2006 and 2015, she served as prosecutor in the office of the Director of Public Prosecution.

From 2006 until today, Ms Benediktsdóttir was also a teacher at the Faculty of Law of the University of Iceland. From 2013 onwards, she served as substitute judge in the Labour Court of Iceland, and in 2022 became a member of the Minister of Justice’s Permanent Committee on Procedural Law. She graduated in law from the University of Law in 2005 and undertook her bar exam for the Iceland District Courts in 2008.

*The following other third countries have Liaison Prosecutors at Eurojust: Albania, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States.

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Eurojust and eu-LISA discuss closer cooperation to support digitalisation of justice across Europe

Source: Eurojust

Ms Agnès Diallo and Mr Ladislav Hamran

Eurojust and eu-LISA will strengthen their coordination as EU Agencies to support the digitalisation of judicial cooperation across the European Union. During a visit to The Hague by eu-LISA Executive Director Ms Agnès Diallo, the discussions focused on the advantages of closer cooperation in support of the Digital Criminal Justice initiative.

This cooperation could, for example, focus on ensuring the interoperability of EU-wide digital systems with those of national authorities, the implementation of the Joint Investigation Teams Collaboration Platform and the European Criminal Records Information System – Third Country Nationals (ECRIS-TCN), as well as the possible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the field of judicial cooperation.

Executive Director of eu-LISA Ms Agnès Diallo stated: Digitalisation of the EU’s justice system has the potential to bring immense value to professionals and users. eu-LISA shares this strong vision and is fully committed to working with all its partners and stakeholders to make it a success. This is what we are continuously building together with Eurojust, ultimately for the benefit of EU citizens.

Eurojust President Mr Ladislav Hamran said: New technologies shape the future of our societies, and it is important for prosecutors and judges to keep in step. I therefore consider closer cooperation with eu-LISA vital for Eurojust’s work, and its support will be crucial in making tomorrow’s cross-border judicial cooperation across the European Union a reality.

In addition, the development by eu-LISA of a specific collaboration platform for joint investigation teams (JITs CP) will provide a secure and efficient tool for the exchange of information between the different cross-border teams, which together with the vital support provided by Eurojust, will concretely streamline their work.

Furthermore, in 2024, eu-LISA will be entrusted with the operational management and further development of e-Justice Communication via Online Data Exchange (e-CODEX), the flagship project of EU e-Justice, a technological innovation that today represents the ‘gold standard’ for secure and reliable cross-border digital communication and information exchange, and whose functionalities will grow over time to effectively support the mission of Eurojust and serve the justice community at large.

Specific attention in today’s meeting between Ms Diallo and Mr Hamran was further given to the broader support that eu-LISA, as the EU Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice can provide to Eurojust, the Digital Criminal Justice initiative and ECRIS-TCN.

In 2020, the European Commission asked Eurojust to roll out a state-of-the-art project, in order to create an EU-wide digital platform that would enable Eurojust and judicial authorities in the Member States to exchange critical information on criminal investigations rapidly and efficiently. As part of these efforts, Eurojust was asked to roll out a state-of-the-art digital infrastructure for the European judiciary.

Ms Diallo and Mr Hamran also discussed the Presidency of eu-LISA of the Justice and Home Affairs Agency Network (JHAAN) this year. The JHAAN Presidency rotates annually, and the chairing by eu-LISA will provide a further opportunity to strengthen collaboration with Eurojust.

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Support to halt money laundering in Italy via tax fraud and fake invoices

Source: Eurojust

Eurojust has supported judicial authorities in Italy, Portugal and Spain in halting an elaborate money-laundering scheme via tax fraud. In a coordinated operation, five suspects have been arrested in Italy and Spain for laundering illicit criminal proceeds by committing VAT fraud on the alleged import of frozen fish from Portugal and Spain. The main suspect is associated with the Cosa Nostra mafia-type criminal organisation.

© – Guardia di Finanza

In a recent operation, approximately EUR 3.3 million in cash, luxury vehicles and jewellery were seized. This includes the seizing of cash and blocking of bank accounts worth around EUR 600 000 by the Spanish authorities. In total, twelve individuals are currently under investigation by the Italian authorities, including the five suspects who were detained.

The suspects were allegedly involved in a criminal network that laundered money via a complex tax fraud scheme, using fake invoices and avoiding the payment of VAT to the Italian authorities. For this purpose, an enterprise for the importing of frozen fish products from Portugal and Spain was set up. They are now formally suspected of money laundering, tax fraud, criminal association and the fraudulent transfer of valuables.

Eurojust assisted with the execution of European Arrest Warrants and European Investigation Orders, as well as freezing orders, via the National Desks of Italy, Portugal and Spain. The operations on the ground were carried out at the request of and supported by the following authorities:

  • Italy: Public Prosecutor’s Office of Genoa; Guardia di Finanza (Central Service for Investigation on Organised Crime – SCICO)
  • Portugal: DCIAP (Departamento Central de Investigação e Acção Penal); TCIC (Tribunal Central de Instrução Criminal)
  • Spain: Investigative Judge no. 4 Vigo (Juzgado Instruccion no. 4): Audiencia Nacional Pulbic Prosecutor (Fiscalia Audiencia Nacional); UDEF Policia Nacional and Catalan Mossos d’Esquadra
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Eight arrested in international operation against human trafficking supported by Eurojust

Source: Eurojust

With the support of Eurojust and Europol, authorities in Belgium and Hungary have taken action against an organised crime group involved in the trafficking of women for sexual exploitation. During a joint action, eight suspects were arrested in both countries. Several victims have been identified and brought to safety. Eurojust assisted the authorities in setting up and funding a joint investigation team (JIT) into the case.

During an international operation carried out on 20 February, eight suspects were arrested: six in Belgium and two in Hungary. The police seized 15 luxury vehicles, around EUR 34,000 in cash and EUR 9,500 in gold and silver during the searches in Belgium. In Hungary, a luxury vehicle, EUR 6,000 in cash and four wristwatches were seized.

The case was opened by Eurojust in February 2023 at the request of the Belgian authorities. A JIT was set up between the Belgian and Hungarian authorities with the support of Eurojust in May 2023. One coordination meeting was hosted by the Agency to facilitate judicial cooperation.

Europol facilitated the exchange of information and provided support during the investigation. Europol also provided operational analysis, operational intelligence and coordinated operational activities. During the action day, Europol deployed two Europol experts to Belgium and one to Hungary to provide analytical and technical support to the national authorities.

The following authorities took part in this investigation:

  • Belgium: Prosecution Office of West-Flanders; Investigating judge West-Flanders, section Bruges; Local police Ostend
  • Hungary: Metropolitan Public Prosecutor’s Office; Hungarian National Bureau of Investigation
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Eurojust supports an EPPO-led operation against carousel VAT fraud for the first time

Source: Eurojust

During the searches, law enforcement seized vast quantities of smartphones, worth more than EUR 15.3 million, as well as a yacht, worth EUR 3 million, and EUR 1.2 million in cash and cryptocurrency. Several luxury cars, jewellery, luxury watches and 2.5 kg of gold were also found.

The suspects are being investigated for large-scale cross-border Missing Trader Intra-Community (MTIC) fraud involving the trade of electronic goods and protective face masks through companies based in several European countries. MTIC fraud is the theft of value-added tax (VAT) from a government by organised crime groups. The perpetrators are believed to have defrauded up to EUR 195 million through several criminal schemes. Most of the VAT damage was caused in Sweden, where the missing trader companies were based.

Eurojust supported two investigations targeting the same crimes, one led by the EPPO and a second one led by the Swedish authorities. The EPPO investigation targeted the two managers and shareholders of a German distributor company that was acting as an in/out buffer/conduit company in the fraud chain. It purchased and sold mobile phones to other companies in several countries, which were then sold to the Swedish missing trader companies. Eurojust was instrumental in identifying ongoing linked investigations in Sweden, targeting the individual behind the Swedish missing trader companies.

The case was opened at Eurojust in 2021 at the request of the German European Delegated Prosecutor. Eurojust facilitated the cooperation between the EPPO and Sweden, Denmark, Hungary and Poland – all EU Member States that do not participate in the EPPO – and the United Kingdom. Eurojust can support cross-border cooperation in EPPO cases that involve countries that do not participate in the EPPO. The Agency also facilitated cooperation between Sweden and Malta.

The Agency hosted seven coordination meetings to facilitate judicial cooperation between the EPPO and the national authorities involved in the case. Eurojust facilitated the exchange of information and the execution of several European Investigation Orders and European Arrest Warrants.

During the action day, a coordination centre was set up at the EPPO premises in Luxembourg, for the first time jointly with Eurojust. The Eurojust coordination centre focused in particular on coordinating the execution of the Swedish measures in Malta.

In the run-up to the action day, Europol provided analytical support to the partners in this investigation. Furthermore, Europol supported the action day by providing over 100 secure communication channels (VCP – Virtual Command Post), and by deploying a specialist with a mobile office to the operational command centre at EPPO’s headquarters in Luxembourg.

Eurojust and the EPPO signed a Working Arrangement in February of 2021 to facilitate cooperation between the Agency and the EPPO.

The following authorities took part in this investigation:

  • Germany: German Tax Investigation Offices in Berlin, Bielefeld, Cottbus, Münster and Nuremberg; Police Headquarters from Nordhessen and Brandenburg; State Criminal Police Offices from Brandenburg and Berlin;
  • Malta: Malta Police Force – Financial Crimes Investigation Department and International Relations Unit;
  • Poland: Circuit Prosecutor’s Office in Warszawa and Zamość; Police Headquarters in Warszawa and Zamość;
  • Sweden: Swedish Economic Crime Authority.
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Agreement to extend the joint investigation team into alleged core international crimes in Ukraine for two years

Source: Eurojust

Just three weeks after the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Eurojust supported the establishment of a JIT set up on 25 March 2022 by Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine. On 30 May 2022, Estonia, Latvia and Slovakia became members, followed by Romania on 13 October 2022. On 3 March 2023, the JIT’s seven national authorities signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United States Department of Justice.

The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and Europol have been participants in the JIT since April 2022 and October 2023, respectively.

Two years on

A timeline of Eurojust’s response to the war in Ukraine

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A joint investigation team is one of the most advanced tools used in international cooperation in criminal matters, comprising a legal agreement between competent authorities of two or more States for the purpose of carrying out criminal investigations. The aim of the JIT on alleged core international crimes committed in Ukraine is to facilitate investigations and prosecutions in the States concerned, as well as those that may be taken forward to the ICC.

During the coordination meeting, participants discussed the outcomes of the JIT work so far and the priorities for the next two years.

Eurojust provides legal, analytical, logistical and financial support to the JIT. Since March 2022, the Agency has hosted 22 coordination meetings involving JIT members and other national authorities that are investigating alleged core international crimes committed in Ukraine.

The JIT is also supported by the Core International Crimes Evidence Database (CICED), and the International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine (ICPA), hosted by Eurojust. For more information on the various actions taken by Eurojust since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, please consult our dedicated webpage, which includes a Q&A with answers to the most common questions and recordings of press conferences and other related events.

United for Justice conference

The United for Justice Conference, which took place on 29 February in Kyiv, brought together a large number of stakeholders involved in the efforts to ensure accountability for core international crimes allegedly committed in Ukraine. Organised by the Ukrainian authorities, the event focused on cultural heritage. Ukraine’s Prosecutor General, Andriy Kostin, opened the event with a keynote address. Speakers included the Minister of Justice of Poland, the Prosecutors General of Lithuania and Romania, and Eurojust President, Mr Ladislav Hamran.

Further information:

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Full-scale action against EUR 2 billion money laundering network via Lithuanian financial institution

Source: Eurojust

During an action day on 27 February, around 250 judicial representatives and law enforcement officers were active on the ground. In total 18 persons have been arrested, including the three main suspects. In total 55 places were searched and over EUR 11.5 million in assets and bank accounts have been frozen. Eurojust and Europol played pivotal roles in facilitating and coordinating the international activities.

The financial institution offered money laundering as a service to thousands of criminals across the EU, by making fictitious financial transactions via the web of enterprises, which were run by strawmen. It advertised its alleged consultancy services online and was set up in Lithuania in 2016 by an Italian-based OCG.

The financial institution was led by the two main suspects, who resided in Lithuania and Latvia. The OCG laundered the proceedings of a range of criminal activities, including tax evasion, cyber fraud, fake bankruptcy and organised crime such as drug trafficking. Part of the proceeds were injected into the Latvian and Lithuanian economies via the purchase of real estate and luxury vehicles.

The laundered money included the EUR 15 million from unlawfully obtained so-called building bonuses, provided by the Italian national authorities. These bonuses were given for renovation and insulation works and other energy-saving measures of existing buildings. In reality, no repairs took place, the applicants were not the owners or the buildings did not even exist. The main perpetrator of this fraud was a practising tax consultant, who arranged the awarding of bonuses for 72 other individuals who were aware of the abuse.

Investigations into the OCG were initiated in 2021 by the Public Prosecutor’s Offices of Naples and Lecce in Italy, involving their counterparts in Latvia and Lithuania in 2022 via Eurojust.

In 2022, the financial and judicial authorities in Lithuania already closed down the electronic payment institution. Its banking licence was revoked and bankruptcy procedures were started for non-compliance with money laundering prevention regulations. A rapid reaction of Latvian and Lithuanian authorities to reports on suspicious transactions led to the identification and freezing of millions in funds, real estate properties and luxury vehicles, which now can be confiscated.

During the same year, Eurojust supported the setting up and funding of a joint investigation team between all national authorities involved. Eurojust also set up a coordination centre to support the simultaneous actions in the three countries.

urthermore, Eurojust organised eight coordination meetings to prepare for the simultaneous actions of the Italian, Latvian and Lithuanian authorities. These preparations also prevented potential conflicts of jurisdiction. Eurojust has also already facilitated the restitution to Italy of over EUR 3 million of the illegally obtained public funds, which have been frozen by the Lithuanian authorities.

Europol has been supporting the case since January 2022, working closely with the national investigators to uncover the magnitude and complexity of the activities carried out by the OCG. During the action day, two Europol experts were deployed to Latvia to support the authorities with their investigative measures. A third Europol specialist was deployed to the coordination centre at Eurojust, with an analyst on hand at Europol’s headquarters to handle the contributions shared via Europol’s secure communication channels.

The operations against the OCG are the result of long-term intensive cooperation across Europe of the three countries involved. Eurojust Vice-President and National Member for Lithuania, Ms Margarita Šniutytė-Daugėlienė, acting National Member for Italy, Mr Aldo Ingangi, and National Member for Latvia, Ms Dagmāra Skudra, jointly stated: This collaboration really shows the importance of a well-coordinated and prepared approach across Europe. It is a clear example of the role Eurojust plays in transnational judicial cooperation and shows criminal networks, such as the one we tackled, that we know no borders either. We will continue to work closely together to get justice done and take on fraud involving public funds.

The actions in the three countries were carried out at the request of and by the following authorities:

  • Italy: Public Prosecutor’s Offices of Naples and Lecce; Guardia di Finanza of Naples and Lecce
  • Latvia: Prosecutor General’s Office, Rīga Judicial Region Prosecution Office; 1st Unit of the Economic Crime Enforcement Department of the Central Criminal Police Department of the State Police
  • Lithuania: Vilnius Regional Public Prosecutor’s Office; Vilnius County Police Headquarters
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Over 100 searches and four arrests in Latvia, Germany, France, Italy and Malta against financial institution involved in money laundering

Source: Eurojust

National authorities in Latvia, Germany, France, Italy and Malta have carried out over 100 searches in a large-scale operation against a Russian-Eurasian criminal network and a Maltese-based financial institution allegedly involved in money-laundering services. Four suspects were detained during an action day supported by Eurojust and Europol. Potential suspects and witnesses were also interviewed in Latvia, Germany, Estonia and Malta.

During the actions, over 460 police officers were deployed to carry out the searches. Germany also deployed four officers to support the investigations and searches in Latvia and Malta. In addition to the arrests, various bank accounts and properties were seized.

The Maltese financial institution laundered at least EUR 4.5 million in proceedings from criminal activities since end of 2015. The total sum of laundered money could amount to tens of millions of euros. The financial institution and organised crime group (OCG) behind it offered money-laundering services via a network of fake enterprises and individuals who were registered directors, without performing any real business activities.

The OCG operated mainly from Riga and Berlin. Investigations were initiated in 2021 by the Latvian authorities after they noticed unusual money transfers from Latvia to the Maltese financial institution. Simultaneously, the German authorities had started investigations into suspicious money flows involving the same financial institution.

Eurojust supported today’s concerted action by setting up a coordination centre and establishing and funding a joint investigation team between the German and Latvian authorities. The Agency also organised five dedicated coordination meetings to prepare for the action day and assisted with the execution of European Investigation Orders in the countries involved.

On the action day, Europol deployed a money laundering expert to Latvia and set up a mobile office at Eurojust’s coordination centre to support the operation. Since December 2021, Europol has been supporting the investigation by providing operational and financial analysis and operational expertise. The Agency also supported the joint investigation team and provided financial support to the case.

Today’s operations were carried out by the following authorities:

  • Latvia: Rīga Northern Prosecution Office; Rīga Judicial Region Prosecution Office; 1st Unit of the Economic Crime Enforcement Department of the Central Criminal Police Department of the State Police
  • Germany: Public Prosecutor‘s Office Berlin (Staatsanwaltschaft Berlin); State Office of Criminal Investigations Berlin (Landeskriminalamt Berlin)
  • Estonia: Office of the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Estonia and Estonian Police and Border Guard Board
  • France: Public Prosecutor’s Office and Investigative Judge – Judicial Court of Nice; National Police (DIPN) Alpes-Maritimes Division (Judicial Police Nice; Research and Intervention Brigade; Financial Brigade) – Border Police
  • Italy: Public Prosecutor’s Office Rome; Guardia di Finanza, Financial Police Unit Rome (Nucleo Polizia Economica e Finanziaria di Roma)
  • Malta: Financial Crimes Investigations Department and Asset Recovery Bureau of the Malta Police
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Eurojust supports international operation against world’s largest ransomware group

Source: Eurojust

In a coordinated action supported by Eurojust and Europol, judicial and law enforcement authorities from 10 different countries have severely disrupted LockBit, the world’s most active ransomware operation. Two members of the ransomware team have been arrested in Poland and Ukraine. In addition, law enforcement has compromised LockBit’s primary platform and other enabling infrastructure. This includes the takedown of 34 servers in the Netherlands, Germany, Finland, France, Switzerland, Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom.

LockBit first emerged at the end of 2019, initially calling itself ‘ABCD’ ransomware. Since then, it has grown rapidly and by 2022 had become the most deployed ransomware variant worldwide. LockBit attacks are believed to have affected over 2,500 victims all over the world.

The group is a ‘ransomware-as-a-service’ operation, meaning that a core team creates its malware and runs its website, while licensing out its code to affiliates who launch attacks.

The joint action enabled the various police forces to take control of much of the infrastructure that enables the LockBit ransomware to operate, including the darknet, and, in particular, the ‘wall of shame’ used to publish the data of victims who refused to pay the ransom. This action has disrupted the network’s ability to operate.

Authorities have also frozen more than 200 cryptocurrency accounts linked to the criminal organisation.

This international operation follows a complex investigation led by the UK National Crime Agency. Supported by Eurojust and Europol, law enforcement from nine other countries worked in close partnership with the National Crime Agency on this case, including authorities in France, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, the United States, Switzerland, Australia, Canada and Japan.

The case was opened at Eurojust in April 2022 at the request of the French authorities. Five coordination meetings were hosted by the Agency to facilitate judicial cooperation and to prepare for the joint action.

Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) organised 27 operational meetings, and 4 technical 1-week sprints to develop the investigative leads in preparation of the final phase of the investigation. Europol also provided analytical, crypto-tracing and forensic support. In addition, three Europol experts were deployed to the command post in London during the action phase.

With Europol’s support, the Japanese Police, the National Crime Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation pooled their technical expertise to develop decryption tools designed to recover files encrypted by the LockBit ransomware. These solutions have been made available free of charge on the ‘No More Ransom’ portal, which is available in 37 languages. So far, more than 6 million victim across the globe have benefited from No More Ransom, which contains over 120 solutions capable of decrypting more than 150 different types of ransomware.

The following authorities took part in this investigation:

  • United Kingdom: National Crime Agency, South West Regional Organised Crime Unit
  • United States: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation – Newark
  • France: JUNALCO (National Jurisdiction against Organised Crime) Public Prosecutor’s Office Paris Cybercrime Unit – C3N (cyber unit); Gendarmerie Nationale
  • Germany: Central Cybercrime Department North Rhine-Westphalia (CCD), State Bureau of Criminal Investigation Schleswig-Holstein (LKA Schleswig-Holstein), Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt)
  • Sweden: Swedish Cybercrime Centre, Swedish Prosecution Authority
  • The Netherlands: National Police (Team Cybercrime Zeeland-West-Brabant, Team Cybercrime Oost-Brabant, Team High Tech Crime); Public Prosecutor’s Office Zeeland-West-Brabant
  • Australia: Australian Federal Police
  • Canada: Royal Canadian Mounted Police
  • Japan: National Police Agency
  • Switzerland: Zurich Cantonal Police; Public Prosecutor’s Office II of the Canton of Zurich
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One of the key leaders of EncroChat extradited to France with the support of Eurojust

Source: Eurojust

An international arrest warrant was issued against the suspect in July 2021. He was extradited to France last week at the request of the Public Prosecutor of Lille.

This dismantling was coordinated and supported by Eurojust and Europol and sent shockwaves through organised crime. Between 2020 and 2023, over 6 500 suspects were arrested and at least EUR 900 million in assets were seized, with investigations still ongoing. Eurojust supported a joint investigation team into the case from 2020.

In an update on the EncroChat investigations, in June 2023, the Public Prosecutor of Lille already announced that potential suspects who were living outside the European Union could be extradited. The French Desk at Eurojust supported the PPO of Lille in contacting the Dominican authorities to arrange the formal extradition to France.

The extradited defendant is suspected, among other things, of participating in a criminal conspiracy to illegally import and acquire illicit drugs, and aiding and abetting their illegal possession, supply and transfer. He is also suspected of participating in a criminal conspiracy, aggravated money laundering, illegal arms possession and supplying or transferring a cryptologic device without integrity control or prior declaration to the authorities.

The person concerned was indicted on 2 February and further legal proceedings will be taken. The accused has been remanded in custody and is still presumed innocent at this stage of the proceedings. Eurojust remains available to support the authorities in case of further requests.