Several burglary and pickpocketing gangs operating in France allegedly stole large quantities of jewellery while working in shifting group formations. A JIT between the Belgian and French authorities, supported by Eurojust, confirmed that the stolen gold and jewellery were being transported to Belgium and resold for cash.

Investigators identified more than 80 trips between September 2025 and May 2026 linked to one group of suspects, and a further 55 trips between November 2025 and May 2026 linked to another group, equivalent to more than two shipments per week. Members of the criminal groups travelled several times a week from Paris, France, to Charleroi, Belgium, using vehicles equipped with hidden compartments to transport the stolen goods.

From Charleroi, the stolen precious metals, jewellery, diamonds and watches were transported by an intermediary to Antwerp, where they were sold in the city’s diamond district. Investigators established links between the criminal network and jewellers suspected of facilitating the resale of the stolen jewellery.

French authorities launched their investigation in September 2025 and soon requested judicial cooperation with their Belgian counterparts through Eurojust. A JIT was set up at the Agency to facilitate the exchange of information and coordinate a joint action day aimed at arresting members of the criminal groups and searching premises to collect evidence.

The action day took place simultaneously on 27 and 28 May 2026 in Charleroi, Antwerp and Paris and resulted in:

• The arrest of 10 individuals in Belgium (which included the execution of two European Arrest Warrants issued by the French authorities)
• Nine arrests in France
• Several searches among private and business residences in Belgium and France
• The seizure of many luxury watches, jewellery, gold bars, loose diamonds and equipment for melting and dismantling jewellery.

During searches of homes and five jewelry stores involved in Belgium, 6 kg of gold bars (estimated to be worth EUR 700,000), numerous loose pieces of jewelry, EUR 65,000 in cash, and dozens of luxury watches were seized. Searches of homes in France also yielded nearly EUR 10,000 in cash, jewelry-making equipment, and luxury goods.

The full valuation of the cash and jewellery seized is currently ongoing. This investigation marks another example of the effectiveness of international cooperation in combating organised crime and money laundering across borders.

The actions were carried out by the following authorities:

• Belgium: Investigating judges of Charleroi and Antwerp, Public Prosecutors Office Charleroi and Antwerp, Federal Judicial Police of Charleroi and Antwerp, Antwerp Police.
• France: JIRS Paris (Interregional Specialised Jurisdiction) investigative judge; Paris Public Prosecution Office; Gendarmerie National – SR Versailles