The alert was raised in March 2022 when a company in Fontenay-le-Pesnel, Calvados, was the victim of the theft of 21 particle filters from its vehicles. The research section of the Caen gendarmerie quickly identified a Romanian criminal organization based in Roma camps in the Paris region. A gang that was selling a very large quantity of catalytic converters stolen by several specialized teams.
The Rennes Interregional Specialized Jurisdiction, which has been given responsibility for the investigation, has just announced that seven men and one woman suspected of being involved in trafficking have been indicted. “They are all Romanian nationals, aged between 20 and 54. Four have already been convicted by the courts for similar acts,” explains Rennes public prosecutor Philippe Astruc.
The itinerant criminal group was linked to several trafficking networks, including a main one located in Romania and another in the Netherlands. In total, more than 900 stolen catalytic converters were allegedly sold between February 1, 2022 and January 16, 2024. All of them passed through camps in the Paris region.
Searches carried out in Romania
A second operation was carried out in Romania to identify the people responsible for reselling the stolen pots. Seventeen searches were carried out, leading to the seizure of four BMW vehicles and 9,200 euros in cash, computer equipment and account books. Four men, three Romanians and a Turk aged between 23 and 43, were placed under judicial supervision.
