In the first two months of 2010, the border policemen
detected 36 vehicles, stated as stolen from abroad, a twofold
increase in comparison with the same period of the previous
year.
The main "supplier" of stolen vehicles transiting the Romanian
borders, is still Italy and the involved persons originate from
Romania, Republic of Moldova, Bulgaria etc.
Statistics
Trafficking in luxury vehicles stolen from abroad remains this year "in the attention" of transnational underworld, being an illegal activity which brings substantial financial advantages to the network members already specialized in the field and extremely well organized at the level of several states (from West to the Eastern Europe).
As of the beginning of the year and to the present, the border policemen detected 36 luxury vehicles, 4 freight vehicles, 2 equipments, 2 minibuses and a motorcycle stated as stolen abroad and also in Romania.
In the similar period of 2009, 18 stolen vehicles were detected and in 2009, 198 stolen vehicles were detected.
In order to identify and seize the stolen vehicles stated as stolen abroad, under the direct surveillance 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 the Contact Centers at the border.
In all the cases, according to the law, criminal files were issued on the names of the persons involved in the trafficking in stolen vehicles.
Organization of traffickers' networks
Out of the analyses carried out by the border policemen in the cases detected in the competence area, it was established that, generally, the networks of traffickers are organized on two types, respectively the ones specialized in the theft of luxury vehicles (Chrysler, Mercedes, BMW etc.) and the ones specialized in the theft of mid-range vehicles (Fiat, Opel, Seat etc.).
In their turn, these two types are subdivided in several action groups, whose "hierarchy" is the following:
reconnaissance group - identifies the vehicles according to the "request", technical group - produces false documents, transportation group - crosses the vehicles over the borders, capitalization group - sells the luxury vehicles, surveillance group - has the duty to monitor and to carry out all the phases included in the illegal act.Also, this year, it was ascertained that the specialized networks continue to deal with the theft from abroad of forest or agriculture equipment, which are transported based on false documents, to Romania, in the first two months in 2010, 2 equipments stolen from abroad were detected, whose value exceeds 200,000 EUR. These are added to another 22 equipments stolen and detected by the border policemen in 2009, whose amount exceeds 2.5 million EUR.
Modi operandi and routes
As modi operandi of the traffickers, the analyses demonstrate that "is practiced":
insurance fraud - with the agreement of the owner the car is transported to other country, "washed" through successive sales and subsequently stated as being stolen by the owner; ordered theft, misappropriation or fraud in the rental companies - a person lacking material possibilities is recruited who for a moderate amount of money accept to open an account on his/her name at a bank and 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 European Western countries to the East-European countries:
Italy - Austria - Hungary - Romania; Germany - Austria - Hungary - Romania - Republic of Moldova and Ukraine; Italy - Serbia - Romania - R. 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, the persons who were driving the vehicles stated, during the investigations, that they did not know 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 in Romania and they did not know that it was stolen.
Following an "analysis" 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:
On 27.02.2010, at 12.30, in B.C.P. Galati-Road,
Dmitrii P., aged 46, with double citizenship (Romanian and
Moldovan), driving an Iveco Magirus truck, fabrication year 2007,
registered in Lithuania, presented himself to exit the country.
As a result of the investigations carried out by the border
policemen, it was ascertained that the vehicle was in the data base
of Interpol as stolen from Lithuania on 05.01.2010.
The truck, amounting to 451,803 lei, was seized at C.I.B.P. Galati
in order to carry on the investigations.
Criminal file was issued for Dmitrii P., for committing theft, at
the end of the investigations the legal measures are to be
taken.
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, fabrication year
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 border policemen from Maramures detected and
detained two industrial equipments, amounting to approximately
200,000 EUR, about which there is information that are stolen from
Italy.
Acting based on data and information at the level of C.I.B.P.
Maramures, the border policemen from Maramures continued the
actions in the field of international trafficking in stolen
vehicles from abroad, under the coordination of the D.I.I.C.O.T.
prosecutor.
So, on 25.02.2010, our employees detected on the radius of Baia
Mare Municipality, inside a commercial society, whose manger is
I.B., aged 42, residing in Satu Mare County, two heavy-duty
equipments, about which there is information that they are stolen
from Italy.
The two Hyundai diggers, amounting to approximately 200,000 EUR
were confiscated and seized at C.I.B.P. Maramures Headquarters.
At the same time, the investigations are continued together with
the Italian authorities and at the finalization of the case the
legal measures are to be taken.
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 innocent people.