In a collaborative effort involving European law enforcement agencies, Europol successfully apprehended four suspected individuals involved in the theft of antique and rare books.

Among the stolen volumes were precious Russian works taken from libraries across Europe, including the esteemed library in Geneva.

Europol estimates the total value of the stolen books to be approximately €2.5 million (CHF 2.4 million), with some items having been auctioned off in St Petersburg and Moscow, rendering them nearly impossible to recover. During the operation, authorities seized 150 of the stolen books, with five suspects previously detained across various countries, bringing the total number of individuals apprehended to nine. Swiss federal police, Fedpol, played a significant role in the investigation.

The gang's activities spanned multiple European countries, including the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Switzerland, occurring between 2022 and 2023. Targeting rare Russian literature predominantly, their modus operandi included posing as scholars to gain access to library collections, where they meticulously photographed and measured the books before replacing them with meticulously crafted copies of "excellent quality."

In the case of the Geneva library, the theft occurred in late October 2023, resulting in the loss of three invaluable works, including a collection by Alexander Pushkin, valued at over CHF 173,000 ($190,000). The Geneva public prosecutor's office has initiated criminal proceedings, which are ongoing.

The systematic nature of the thefts allowed Europol to establish connections between the various incidents, facilitating the formation of a multinational investigative network. Through diligent cooperation and swift action, law enforcement agencies have dealt a significant blow to the illicit trade in rare and precious literary artifacts. Photo by Graymo86, Wikimedia commons.