Two citizens of Moldova were arrested on suspicion that they committed at least 20 burglaries in luxury homes in Germany’s Hamburg together with other expats, causing damage of about €20 million. The thieves stole jewels, objects of art, precious metals and other things and smuggled these into Moldova. The information was presented in a news conference, IPN reports.

Head of the National Investigations Inspectorate Ion Yakimov said a criminal case over theft was started two years ago. More criminal cases followed, over money laundering and smuggling. The suspects were arrested in cooperation with the police of Germany.

There were identified another 17 Moldovans who allegedly formed part of the same criminal group. These all have a criminal past and were put on the wanted list. Searches are carried out in Moldova at places where the things stolen in Germany could be hidden. 

Vasile Golban, prosecutor of the Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime and Special Cases, said the suspects face three to ten years in jail for smuggling, five to ten years in jail for money laundering and eight to 15 years in jail for creating and managing a criminal group.