The European Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation

1. Stolen Baroque painting returned to the United Kingdom with support from Eurojust

   The seventeenth century painting ‘A Rocky Coast, with Soldiers Studying a Plan’ has been safely returned to the United Kingdom from Romania with the support of Eurojust. The Italian Baroque landscape by Salvator Rosa was stolen from the Christ Church Picture Gallery in Oxford in March 2020. The Agency supported the investigation and played a key role in facilitating cross-border judicial cooperation between the national authorities involved.

2. Practitioners share expertise on battlefield evidence to tackle terrorism and core international crimes

   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.

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

   Eurojust has assisted national authorities across Europe in tackling a massive fraud involving fake investments in cannabis plants for medicinal use. Two linked criminal organisations that advertised the scheme online and laundered the profits, which are estimated to be approximately EUR 645 million, have been dismantled. In a coordinated action, nine suspects have been arrested. Eurojust supported authorities in Germany, Spain and France in setting up a joint investigation team (JIT) into the fraud.

4. Crackdown on criminal network that used minors and women for street begging in Portugal

   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.

5. Eurojust hosts European Commission event to increase coordination in fight against wildlife trafficking