In the first six months of 2010, the border policemen
detected 153 stolen vehicles, out of these 116 vehicles, 16 cargo
trucks, 9 microbuses, 9 motorcycles and 3 trailers.
The number of vehicles stated as stolen and detected at the border
(116) increased approximately 1.3 times in comparison with the
similar period of 2009, when 86 vehicles were detected.
The main "supplier" of stolen vehicles transiting the Romanian
borders, is still Italy, and the involved persons originate from
Romania, Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, etc.
Statistics
Trafficking in luxury vehicles stolen from abroad remains, also this year, in the attention of transnational underworld, being an illegal activity which brings substantial financial benefits to the members of the networks already specialized in the field and extremely well organized at the level of several states (from the Western to the Eastern Europe).
From the beginning of the year until now, the border policemen detected 153 auto means (116 vehicles, 16 cargo trucks, 9 microbuses, 9 motorcycles and 3 trailers), stated as stolen from abroad, with approximately 32% more in comparison with the same period of 2009, when 111 stolen vehicles were detected.
In order to identify and confiscate the vehicles stated as stolen from abroad, under the direct monitoring of the Prosecutor's Office, the border policemen collaborated with the similar structures in the E.U. Member States, realizing an operational data and information exchange through Border Contact Points and Centers.
In all situations, according to law, criminal files were drawn up on the name of the persons involved in trafficking in stolen vehicles.
Organization of trafficker networks
From the analyses carried out by the border policemen in the cases detected in the competence area, it was established that, generally, the trafficker networks are organized on two types: specialized in the theft of luxury vehicles (Chrysler, Mercedes, BMW etc.) and specialized in the theft of mid-range vehicles (Fiat, Opel, Seat etc.), respectively.
These two types are subdivided in several action groups whose "hierarchy" is the following:
reconnaissance group - identifies the vehicles corresponding to the "request", technical group - produces false documents, transportation group - crosses the vehicles over the borders, capitalization group - sells the luxury vehicles, surveillance group - monitors and carries out all the phases included in the illegal activity.Modus operandi and routes
As modus operandi of the traffickers, the analyses show that "are practiced":
insurance fraud - with the authorization of the owner, the vehicle is transported to another country, "washed" through successive sales and subsequently is stated as stolen by its owner; ordered theft, misappropriation or fraud at rental agencies - a person lacking material possibilities is being recruited and for a moderate amount of money agrees to open an account on his/her name at a bank in order to obtain a credit card, based on which the person rents the vehicle from the profile firms.The routes used by the traffickers are, generally, oriented from the West European countries to the East European countries:
Italy - Austria - Hungary - Romania; Germany - Austria - Hungary - Romania - Moldova and Ukraine; Italy - Serbia - Romania - Republic of Moldova - Ukraine or Russian Federation.After that, the main "supplier" of stolen vehicles transiting the borders of Romania is Italy, followed by Germany, Spain etc.
In most of the cases, during the investigations, the persons who were driving the vehicles stated that they weren't aware of the fact that the vehicles were in the attention of the authorities as being stolen - they were just "bona fide purchasers". Others sustained that they received an amount of money (generally, up to 500 EUR) to transport the vehicle to Romania and they did not know that it was stolen.
Following a "study" of the bid and ask on the black market of vehicles, it was ascertained that, in the luxury vehicles category, the most wanted are BMW and Audi, and the mid-range vehicles: Renault and Fiat.
Out of the cases recorded this year by the border policemen, we mention:
A BENTLEY CONTINENTAL luxury vehicle, amounting
to approximately 200.000 euro which, in the database, appeared as
being stolen from Germany, was discovered by the border policemen
in Arad at the entry in Romania.
On 23.06.2010, the border policemen within the Border Crossing
Point Varsand identified a Ukrainian citizen, P.O., aged 48, who
presented himself in order to enter the country driving a Bentley
Continental, registered in Ukraine.
On the occasion of the documents' check, the border policemen
ascertained that the registration certificate of the vehicle and
the Ukrainian driving license presented by P.O. were falsified.
After carrying out the specific checks, the border policemen
discovered that the vehicle appeared in the database of Interpol as
being stolen from Germany in April 2010.
The man stated that he was not aware of the fact that the vehicle
was stolen from Germany and that he was just transporting it to
Bulgaria at the request of a friend.
The border policemen drew up the documents for the beginning of the
criminal proceeding for committing theft concealment, complicity to
material falsification in official documents, driving on public
roads a vehicle without driving license and a vehicle with false
registration number; for the finalization of the case all the legal
measures are to be taken.
At the same time, the vehicle was seized and transported to the HQ
of County Inspectorate of Border Police Arad in order to carry on
the investigations.
On 22.04.2010, around 00.10, at Sculeni Border
Crossing Point, in Iasi County, Oleg N., a Moldovan citizen, aged
34, operating a road tractor MAN, presented himself to exit the
country.
As a result of the thorough check carried out by the border
policemen it was established that the series stamped on the chassis
presented tracks of mechanic modifications, and the board computer
of the road tractor presented another car body series.
Thus, carrying out specific investigations, the border policemen
noticed that the road tractor was stated as stolen from
Germany.
The man mentioned that he was not aware of the fact that the road
tractor amounting to 45,000 euro was stolen.
The border policemen issued criminal file for complicity to commit
theft and the road tractor was seized and transported to the HQ of
Sculeni Border Crossing Point, in order to continue the
investigations.
On 21 April 2010, around 23.30, at Albita Border
Crossing Point, Vaslui County, the Romanian citizen, Liviu D., aged
40, operating a Mercedes Benz S 350 CDI limo, fabricated in 2009,
registered in Germany, presented himself to exit the country.
At the specific check, the border policemen being suspicious
regarding the origin of the vehicle carried out a thorough check
and noticed that the vehicle was stated as stolen from Italy since
the beginning of this month.
The driver claimed that he had bought the vehicle from a German
citizen for the amount of 42,000 euro. The man also said that he
was not aware of the fact that the vehicle was stolen and intended
to sell it in Republic of Moldova.
The car, amounting to more than 50,000 euro was seized and
transported to the HQ of Vaslui County Inspectorate of Border
Police.
On 25.02.2010, around 07.00, in B.C.P. Albita,
Vaslui county, Victor G., aged 32, with double citizenship
(Moldovan and Romanian), driving a BMW X3 vehicle, fabricated in
2008 and registered in Italy, presented himself to exit the
country.
On the occasion of the specific control, the border policemen
discovered that the driver was not the owner of the vehicle; he
presented a power of attorney based on which he could drive the
vehicle.
Acting on a risk analysis base, our employees carried out
investigations through Oradea Contact Point and it resulted that
the vehicle figured as stolen in Italy on 24.02.2010.
Victor G. stated that he was not aware of the juridical situation
of the vehicle and that he had the taken the vehicle from a
Moldovan citizen just to transport it to Republic of Moldova for an
amount of money.
The person involved is investigated for committing theft and the
vehicle, amounting to approximately 85.000 lei, was seized at
C.I.B.P. Vaslui Headquarters until the finalization of the
investigations.
The Romanian Border Police will continue - independently or in collaboration with the other institutions in the country or abroad - to undertake firm measures in the field of countering cross-border crime phenomenon, which can prejudice the national economy and honest people.