Credit: EUROPOL /  The organised criminal gang targeted luxurious cars in Germany and then sold them outside of the EU.

By Gary Raynaldo   DIPLOMATIC TIMES

A joint anti-organised crime operation by Europol and Eurojust  led to the arrest last week of 12 Lithuanians suspected of luxury car theft in German and Lithuania.  Operation JIT EWALD resulted in the arrest of two suspects in Germany and eight in Lithuania, according to Europol. The European Union’s law enforcement organization (Europol) stated that a total of six premises were searched in Germany and 11 in Kaunas and Vilnius, Lithuania. The German authorities initiated an international investigation in November 2018 after receiving information that Lithuanian citizens had been targeting luxurious cars in Germany and then selling them outside of the EU.

The damage done by this organised crime group is valued at over €1.5 million,

according to Europol.

Europol, the European Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation, supported the investigation by facilitating information exchange and deploying experts and a mobile office on-the-spot in Lithuania. A joint investigation team (JIT)  involving German and Lithuanian officers was set-up with the support of Eurojust, the European agency dealing with judicial co-operation in criminal matters.  According to Europol,  JITs are teams formed jointly by national law enforcement agencies to handle cross-border crime. Joint investigation teams coordinate the investigations and prosecutions conducted in parallel by several countries.

Borderless Criminal Gangs Target German Luxury Automobiles To Be Taken To Eastern Europe Luxury  Automobiles Like Mercedes Benz Are Target By Criminal Gangs Operating in Germany. Many vehicles are taken to Lithuania, beyond the reach of German law enforcement.

“As the crime does not recognize the state borders, there is no walls for investigations. This case has shown that joint action of the police officers, the prosecutor’s office and the court, alongside with the German officers brought great success,”

Danas Valkavičius,  Kaunas district chief prosecutor, was quoted as saying in a statement released by the Kaunas police office.

ORGANISED  PROPERTY  CRIME   Is One Of EUROPOL’s  Priority Criminal Area

According to Europol,   Organised Property Crime is a highly visible crime that causes widespread feelings of insecurity among citizens.  Motor vehicle crime, domestic and business burglaries, pickpocketing and ATM attacks are some of the most common forms of organised property crime conducted by cross-border organised criminal groups, according to Europol.   The EU law enforcement organization states that organised property crime has the potential to cause widespread feelings of insecurity, not least among vulnerable groups such as the elderly, who are often the targets of “dear nephew” and other “trick” thefts and pickpocketing.  Crimes in this category are often committed by  highly mobile organised crime groups that, often exploiting diaspora communities in Member States to create networks of contacts, anchor points and logistical support, typically carry out a significant number of offences in a region over a short period before moving on.  Organised property crime is one of the EMPACT priorities, Europol’s priority crime areas, under the 2018–2021 EU Policy Cycle.

Europol, headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands, supports the 28 EU Member States in their fight against terrorism, cybercrime and other serious and organised forms of crime. (Photo Credit: Europol) 

Europol also works with many non-EU partner states and international organisations.