Action against an organised criminal group involved in thefts of luxury cars
On 11 October, a joint action day run by French and German police authorities, and supported by Eurojust with a coordination centre, succeeded in stopping an international organised criminal group (OCG) involved in thefts of luxury cars.
The modus operandi of the OCG shows that the suspects broke into car owners’ private homes to steal their car keys. The suspects played different roles in the OCG, ranging from stealing the cars, forging identity documents, and driving the vehicles to Germany.
The investigation started in June 2016, when a Roma camp was dismantled in northern France. The investigation revealed links to other cases in which the French authorities of the Tribunal de Grande Instance (TGI) Le Havre investigated two car thefts, and discovered that the cars were stolen in France and sold to customers in Germany for low prices. Between 2012 and 2015, 17 car thefts were under investigation by JIRS Lille, France. The OCG is allegedly involved in the theft of an estimated 100 cars meant for resale in Germany.
Eurojust provided support at various stages of the investigation, offering the opportunity for France and Germany to discuss and elaborate a common judicial strategy and find the most efficient response. Two coordination meetings were organised by and held at Eurojust in 2016. A joint investigation team (JIT) was formed between France and Germany in January 2016, with Eurojust providing funding for the JIT, enabling long-term cooperation and coordinated covert operations, which eventually led to the planning of the joint action day. Europol supported the action day by being present in Germany and France.
Eurojust’s support proved crucial in dismantling the OCG, speeding up the entire operation and facilitating information exchange between the authorities involved.
Figures at a glance:
- 15 arrests
- 6 witnesses interviewed
- 15 private premises searched in Germany
- 9 private premises searched in France
- 8 cars searched and seized in France
- 3 cars seized in Germany
