The Czech Desk is headed by Lukáš Starý, who is the National Member for the Czech Republic since February 2011.
In 2022, the Czech Desk was involved in 253 new cases, 43 coordination meetings, 3 coordination centres, and 41 joint investigation teams.
Lukáš Starý was appointed National Member for the Czech Republic on 1 February 2011. Mr Starý was a prosecutor in the International Department of the Supreme Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Czech Republic from October 2008 to June 2009. From 2003 to 2008, and again from 2009 until his appointment at Eurojust, Mr Starý worked at the District Public Prosecutor’s Office in Karvina.
Martina Hluštíková has been Deputy National Member for the Czech Republic since February 2016. From November 2014 until her appointment to Eurojust, she worked as Deputy Chief Prosecutor at the District Public Prosecutor’s Office in Ostrava. This is her second time working at Eurojust, as she was Seconded National Expert at the Czech Desk from May 2013 until October 2013. Before that, from 2003, she worked at the District Public Prosecutor’s Office in Ostrava. Since the beginning of her career, she specialises in international judicial cooperation.
Lukas Jindra, Public Prosecutor of the District Public Prosecutor´s Office in Prague 9.
Hana Čejpová joined Eurojust in 2011. Before, she worked at the Police Headquarters in Prague. She finished her studies at the Police Academy of the Czech Republic and the Metropolitan University of Prague in the fields of Security, Law, European studies and Public Administration. Her professional career and interest is dedicated to the support of judicial and police cooperation.
| 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New cases (total) - of which initiating - of which participating |
205 113 92 |
238 136 102 |
244 119 125 |
259 135 124 |
239 118 121 |
253 134 119 |
| Coordination meetings (initiating and/or participating) | 22 | 24 | 34 | 25 | 31 | 43 |
| Coordination centres (organising and/or participating) | - | 1 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 3 |
| Joint investigation teams (newly signed and/or ongoing) | 11 | 32 | 30 | 33 | 35 | 41 |
Crime: Several criminal organisations, belonging to one of the most dangerous high-risk criminal networks in the European Union, work together to carry out large-scale poly-criminal activities (including drug trafficking and money laundering) in and outside the European Union.
Action: On 22 November, 94 searches are executed across Europe, targeting the leaders of the criminal organisations and their associates. In an unprecedented international operation, involving judicial and law enforcement authorities from 11 countries, 44 individuals are arrested in Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Latvia, France, Germany, Poland, Norway, Slovakia, Spain and the United States.
Result: During the action day, large quantities of various illicit drugs, such as cocaine, hashish and cannabis and methamphetamine are seized.
Eurojust's role: International cooperation coordinated by Eurojust and Europol is key to bringing the perpetrators located in different locations across the world to justice. Eurojust sets up and finances two JITs, which, together with Europol’s Operational Taskforce, serve as a joint hub for criminal intelligence. Based on this pool of information and evidence, the different authorities agree on a common strategy to bring down the whole network. Eurojust organises 15 coordination meetings to prepare for the action day and sets up a coordination centre to provide cross-border judicial assistance.
Crime: An OCG regularly smuggles large quantities of cigarettes produced in the United Arab Emirates to Hungary, committing large-scale VAT fraud. The estimated damage caused by the tax evasion to the European Union budget amounts to over EUR 8 750 000.
Action: On 16 August 2022, a joint action day is supported by Eurojust and Europol, during which one suspect is arrested. International and European Arrest Warrants are issued against three more suspects still at large.
Result: Authorities in Hungary, Austria, the Czech Republic and Poland dismantle the criminal network. Over EUR 750 000 in several currencies, 7 high-value cars and 49 very high-value wristwatches are seized in Hungary.
Eurojust's Role: The Agency actively facilitates cross-border judicial cooperation between the national authorities involved, including the execution of European Investigation Orders (EIOs) and the organisation of the joint action day.
Crime: A 22-year-old is suspected of committing several terrorist and extremist crimes, with the objective of publicly inciting the overthrow of the democratic political system. He shares photos of glorified far-right extremists, and publishes instructions for the production of weapons, explosives and mines, as well as guidelines on how to carry out sabotage attacks.
Action: Two action days take place, supported by Eurojust, Europol, the United States, Slovak and Czech authorities: one on 11 May in Slovakia, where one location is searched, followed by a second on 23 May in the Czech Republic where another location is searched.
Result: During the first action day in Slovakia, one suspect is arrested and a 3D printer, computer and other electronic devices are seized. During the second action day in the Czech Republic, a number of 3D-printed metal parts of weapons are seized.
Eurojust's role: The Agency supported the authorities in Slovakia and the Czech Republic by setting up and funding a JIT into the case. One coordination meeting took place in Slovakia to share information, decide on a common strategy, and facilitate cooperation with the United States and Europol.
Eurojust is an agency of the European Union