After a house raid in Bulgaria in 2020, authorities seized 7 000 cultural artifacts with important historical value. The collection of stolen items includes masks, military equipment, jewellery, vases and cups from the Thracian and Greco-Roman civilisations, with some dating back to 2 000 BC. Due to the lack of documentation for many of the artefacts, suspicions of illegal acquisition were raised and an investigation was started. 

Among the arrested suspects is a High-Value Target (HVT), who is suspected of leading the trafficking operation. He is suspected of financing illegal excavations across Bulgaria and other neighbouring countries. To execute the excavations, local looters are alleged to have acted on behalf of the main suspect. The criminal group was in possession of questionable documentation for a few of the artefacts, issued by auction houses and art galleries worldwide, primarily in France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. 

When investigations into the group continued after the house raid, connections with individuals in other countries to the group, as well as in the locations of other stolen artefacts were found. Cooperation with seven other countries started and an action day was planned to arrest the suspects and recover the other stolen artefacts. 

On 19 November, actions were coordinated from Eurojust in The Hague. In Bulgaria, 35 suspects were arrested and 120 locations were searched. Other searches took place in France, Germany, Greece and Albania. Authorities seized over 3 000 artefacts such as antique gold and silver coins, art works and other antiquities. Documents, electronic equipment, over 50 000 in cash and investment gold were also seized. 

Eurojust was approached two weeks before the action day to facilitate the execution of five European Investigation Orders (EIOs) and two Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) requests. Fast coordination between the national representatives at Eurojust ensured that the EIOs and MLAs were prepared in time for the actions on 19 November. Europol established an operational taskforce to facilitate information exchange, coordination, and analytical support. On the action day, Europol deployed two experts to Sofia, Bulgaria to support the coordination of the activities across borders and to provide analytical support and expertise.   

Investigations into the criminal group and the artefacts trafficked will now continue.

The actions were carried out by the following authorities:

• Bulgaria: Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office; National Investigation Service; General Directorate Combatting Organised Crime; State Agency for National Security
• France: JUNALCO (national jurisdiction against organised Crime) court of Paris; OCBC (Central office against trafficking in cultural goods)
• Germany: Public Prosecutor´s Office Munich I; Bavarian State Criminal Police Office; Art Investigation Unit
• Greece: PPO at the Court of Appeals of Athens; PPO at the Court of Appeals of Lamia; Investigating Judge at the Court of First Instance of Athens; Investigating Judge at the Court of First Instance of Lamia; Directorate for Combating Organized Crime; Sub-Directorate for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Goods; Department for the Protection of Cultural Heritage and Antiquities
• Italy: PPO of Rome; the Carabinieri of Cultural Heritage Protection
• Albania: Special Prosecution Office against Corruption and Organised Crime (SPAK)