Authorities in Romania and the Netherlands have established a specialized joint investigation team (JIT) to probe the theft of four significant Romanian historical artifacts from the Drents Museum in Assen, the Netherlands, last month.
On the night of Saturday, January 25, four major pieces of Romanian cultural heritage, including the renowned golden crown of Coţofeneşti, were stolen from the Dutch museum. The thieves used considerable force, detonating an explosion to access the items: the crown and three ancient golden bracelets, all of which were loaned from the Romanian National Museum of History. Three suspects have been arrested in the Netherlands in connection with the crime and remain in custody.
In response to the heist, Romanian authorities requested Eurojust’s assistance, leading to a coordination meeting at Eurojust’s headquarters within the week following the theft. This meeting was intended to discuss the judicial aspects of the investigation and enhance collaboration between the involved authorities. To further streamline the investigation, the two countries have now formed a dedicated JIT.
