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Crime
Voestalpine in the Midst of an Accounting Scandal and Weak Quarterly Results
Voestalpine AG, one of Europe's leading steel and technology groups, is currently facing a double crisis. In addition to a massive drop in profits in the first quarter of the business year 2024/25, the company is struggling with the consequences of an accounting scandal that spanned more than a decade and only became public in June 2024.
September 18, 2024
United Nations Finalize Convention Against Cybercrime with the Support of UNODC
After intensive negotiations and several years of work, the member states of the United Nations finalized a new international convention against cybercrime. This convention represents a historic step in the global fight against the growing threats in the digital space.
August 12, 2024
Wirecard Trial: Further Charges Against Former Management Board Members
Four years after Wirecard's spectacular bankruptcy, the Munich public prosecutor's office has brought charges against two further former members of the Management Board. The focus is on the former CFO, Alexander von Knoop, and Susanne Steidl, responsible for product development.
August 7, 2024
Hopeful Peace Deal for Gangs in Gang Violence in Vienna
In recent weeks, Vienna's streets have been rocked by violent clashes between Syrian and Chechen youth gangs. These conflicts, which were initially perceived as ethnic tensions, have thrown the city into turmoil. But now there are signs of a surprising turnaround: Representatives of both communities have published a joint statement aimed at improving cooperation.
August 6, 2024
Vienna's Mayor Ludwig Reacts to Gang Violence in the City
In recent weeks, there has been a series of violent clashes between ethnic groups in Vienna, which have unsettled the population. The recent incident at Yppenplatz in Ottakring in particular, in which two men were seriously injured, has further exacerbated the situation. In response, Mayor Michael Ludwig has announced that the city's rapid reaction force will be increased in terms of personnel, while at the same time demanding comprehensive measures from the federal government.
July 21, 2024
Pilnacek Affair: Entanglements, Revelations and Political Upheavals in Austria
The Austrian political landscape is currently being rocked by the Pilnacek affair, a complex entanglement of power, secrets and political calculation. At the center is the late head of the justice section Christian Pilnacek, whose secretly recorded audio raises new accusations against the ÖVP.
December 7, 2023
Historic INTERPOL Meeting in Vienna Ends with Call to Fight Organized Crime
INTERPOL's 91st General Assembly in Vienna, held to mark the organization's 100th anniversary, ended with an urgent call to tackle the growing threat of transnational organized crime. The so-called "Vienna Declaration" outlines five priority measures to better support law enforcement agencies worldwide in the fight against this challenge.
December 3, 2023
Uncovering of Money Laundering and Real Estate Fraud in Austria and Cyprus
New leaks have uncovered a complex network of opaque asset transfers centered around Russian oligarchs and Austrian real estate. According to the investigative project "Cyprus Confidential", Austrian real estate is particularly popular with wealthy Russians. Around 40 Cypriot companies own real estate in Vienna, often penthouses in expensive locations.
November 16, 2023
German Car-Sharing Company Under Suspicion in Vienna for Million Euro Fraud
In a sensational move, police authorities in Germany and Austria have launched extensive investigations into a German car-sharing company, overshadowed by a blatant suspicion of multimillion-dollar parking fee fraud. The investigations are targeting the company's directors and involve alleged offenses such as gang crime, fraud, and document forgery.
October 11, 2023
Possible Spy Ring: Ex-Wirecard Manager and Suspected Russian Spies on Trial
British investigators suspect that former Wirecard manager and Austrian Jan Marsalek was involved in a spy network acting for Russia. This information became known through a communication from the British public prosecutor's office and was later reported by BBC and "Spiegel".
September 26, 2023
Interpol and UNODC Strengthen Global Fight Against Forestry Crime with Norway's Support
In a bid to combat forestry crime on a global scale, an international coalition spearheaded by Interpol and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) supported by Norway has inaugurated the second stage of a revolutionary initiative, LEAP II.
August 27, 2023
Controversy Surrounds Jan Marsalek's Letter in Wirecard Scandal Trial
In connection with the Wirecard scandal trial, a letter from Jan Marsalek, a former Wirecard board member, is causing controversy. Marsalek, who has been on the run for three years, contacted the Munich Regional Court in writing through his lawyer.
July 19, 2023
Wirecard Trial: Entire Wirecard Asia Business Made Up
Wirecard's insolvency administrator, Michael Jaffe, has confirmed that the company's deal with supposed partners in Asia was completely fabricated, according to recent findings. This is according to Jaffe's fifth status report to the Munich District Court.
June 27, 2023
Ukrainian Oligarch Dmytro Firtash Hiding in Vienna Faces Gas Purchase Manipulation Case
Dmytro Firtash, an oligarch who has lived in Vienna since 2014 and is linked to a U.S. extradition request, and eight other managers of gas companies in Ukraine controlled by Firtash have now been officially declared defendants in a criminal case.
May 15, 2023
UNODC Warns of Rise in Cocaine Smuggling
After a slowdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, global cocaine production has exploded in the past two years, according to a new report from the Vienna-based United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
March 19, 2023
Customs at Vienna Airport Seized 44,830 Counterfeit Branded Products from China
At Vienna Airport, customs officers made a brilliant bust during the inspection of an air cargo in mid-January. In 73 cartons, which should have been transported from China via Austria to Poland, the customs authorities found 44,830 counterfeit products of various product groups and brands.
March 5, 2023
New Technical Project "Safe Registration Office" Implemented in Austria
The reporting procedure will now be automated through the project “Safe Registration Office” in Austria. This is to prevent crime, the Interior Ministry said. In addition, the "Safe Registration Office" should in future also offer a possibility for a simplified report to the local police station.
January 9, 2023
Wirecard Scandal: Trial of Marsalek and other Austrian Entrepreneurs to Begin
The Wirecard criminal trial in what is believed to be the biggest fraud case in Germany since 1945 begins in Munich. The public prosecutor's office accuses the former Wirecard CEO, Austrian Markus Braun, and his two co-defendants of forming a criminal gang, falsifying the group's balance sheets and cheating lenders of 3.1 billion euros
December 7, 2022
Counterfeiting Cargo Shipment at Vienna Airport Disguised as "Aid Delivery" to Ukraine
Based on a tip-off, the route and the type of packaging, a shipment from Hong Kong via Dubai was subjected to a detailed customs check during a focal point inspection at the customs warehouse at Vienna Airport. As a result, it turned out to be a direct hit: 6,420 pieces of presumably counterfeit branded products were found in 168 cartons. These were disguised as an "aid delivery" to Ukraine.
November 30, 2022
Jewish Museum in Vienna Shows Political Acts of Contrition
The Jewish Museum Vienna is showing a video installation by film artist James T. Hong as the museum's first project to have more influence on social discourse. The exhibition "Apologies" displays apologies by heads of state for crimes approved or ordered by the state.
October 12, 2022
US and Austria's Joint Efforts in Combating Serious Crimes
A report has recently been published that evaluates the success of the joint effort between the USA and Austria in preventing and combating serious crimes.
August 5, 2022
FIFA and UNODC Against Match-Fixing in Football
For the first time, FIFA and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have conducted a joint international training program to support FIFA's 211 member associations in the fight against match-fixing in football.
August 3, 2022
Wirecard Scandal: New Indications for Marsalek's Stay in Moscow
Former Wirecard board member Jan Marsalek, who has been in hiding for two years, could be living in Moscow under the protection of Russian intelligence services.
July 26, 2022
Combating Violence Against Women: New Silent Emergency Call App Available From March
The Austrian government has introduced a new app to help counter the alarming trend of increased domestic violence against women. Read about the new app and other steps the government is taking to prevent violence against women.
February 10, 2022
Interpol Secretary General in Vienna: "Dangers to internal security in Europe originating on other continents"
The Secretary General of Interpol, Jürgen Stock, was in Vienna to meet with Interior Minister Karner to discuss security issues and the upcoming 100th anniversary of Interpol. Read about their meeting and the upcoming General Assembly in Vienna.
January 28, 2022
Austria's Initiatives to Strengthen EU External Border Management
Austria is co-organizing a conference in Lithuania to discuss EU external border protection. Interior Minister Karner, who will represent Austria at the meeting, first stopped in Hungary to talk about the issue with his Hungarian counterpart Sándor Pintér. Read more about Austria's efforts to strengthen EU external border management.
January 20, 2022
Wirecard Scandal: Europol Manhunt for Europe's Most Wanted "Marsalek"
Former COO of Wirecard Jan Marsalek, one of Europe's most wanted fugitives, is still the target of an international manhunt for his suspected role in a multi-billion euro fraud scheme. Read about the ongoing search for Marsalek and Europol's 2021 "EU's Most Wanted" campaign.
December 7, 2021
Cybercrime: New High-Tech Cybercrime Center Opens in Vienna
In response to an increase in cybercrime, Austria has opened the new high-tech Cybercrime Center (C4) of the Federal Criminal Police Office. Learn about the stark increase in cybercrime and the new Cybercrime Center.
November 10, 2021
Money Laundering, Tax Offenses and Terrorist Financing on the Rise
The Austrian Ministry of the Interior reported an increase in money laundering, tax offenses, and terrorist financing in 2020. Read more details about this disturbing trend and its causes.
November 4, 2021
The New Austrian Identity Card: Modern and Forgery-proof
Experts from the Austrian Ministry of the Interior, Federal Criminal Police Office, and Austrian State Printing House have developed a modern and more secure identity card. The release of the cards is accompanied by a new mobile phone app that allows users to verify the authenticity of the new cards.
August 6, 2021
Hate Crime Motives in Austria: Ethnicity, Ideology and Religion
The Ministry of the Interior released a report on hate crimes in Austria. The report showed that the leading hate crime motives were ethnicity, ideology, and religion. Read more about the report.
July 29, 2021
Austria Participates in Huge Blow Against International Organized Crime
Right in the middle of an internationally coordinated campaign against organized crime, the Austrian police forces have seized more than half a million euros, 700 kilograms of narcotics and more than 30 weapons. Read more about the strike below.
June 10, 2021
Pandemic Affects Crime Statistics in Austria
The Covid-19 pandemic has positively affected Austria's crime statistics. In 2020, total crime decreased by 11.3 percent, while the clearance rate increased to 54.2 percent. Cybercrime remains among the major challenges and, in fact, was one of the only categories, which saw a major increase of cases in 2020.
March 22, 2021
25 Years Srebrenica: Austria Commemorates the Victims of the Greatest Genocide in Europe since the End of the Second World War
The genocide of Srebrenica, the worst crime in Europe since the end of the Second World War, is currently being commemorated for the 25th time. This day of remembrance serves to commemorate the thousands of murdered people who lost their lives in the days after 10 July 1995.
July 13, 2020
Money Laundering: Austria about to Ratify European Council Directive
The Council of Europe Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the Proceeds from Crime and on the Financing of Terrorism, which has already been ratified by 35 member states of the Council of Europe, is now also being discussed in the Austrian National Council.
February 18, 2020
USA and Austrian Ministry of the Interior Intensify International Cooperation
During his meeting with the Austrian Minister of the Interior, Wolfgang Peschorn, the US Ambassador to Austria, Trevor Traina, spoke among other things about the continuation of cooperation in the fields of organised crime and counter-terrorism.
August 24, 2019
Robbery of 10 Mio Euro in Front of Austrian Airlines Plane in Albania
During a robbery at Tirana International Airport, robbers tried to steal 10 million euros from an Austrian Airlines aircraft. The plane was supposed to bring the money to Vienna and was just loading. In a fire fight with the police, a perpetrator was killed on the run. All robbers had been identified and the police are pursuing the rest of the gang.
April 10, 2019
Organized International Cum-Ex Tax Fraud in Austria - 183 Million Euros Damage
In connection with dividend stripping, the tax fraud model "Cum-Ex" was created, which deliberately allows the multiple refund of capital gains tax paid only once. According to a report in today's Ö1-Morgenjournal, presumably mainly Arab investors, in cooperation with domestic financial advisors and banks, caused Austrian taxpayers a loss of 183 million euros.
April 9, 2019
Key Border Control Strategies Identified at UNODC's Annual Law Enforcement Experts Meeting
A working document on informal standards for border management and control was drafted and shared with participants at UNODC's annual Law Enforcement Advisors Meeting (LEA), held recently in Vienna. The annual meeting allowed for the exchange of best practices within UNODC and with partners.
October 2, 2018
OSCE Secretariat and UNODC Sign Joint Action Plan to Countering Transnational Threats to Security
Recently, the UNODC and the OSCE, two of the largest international organisations in Vienna, signed a follow-up agreement to better address threats and developments threatening international public security, which is against drugs, crime, corruption and terrorism and in favour of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
March 23, 2018
Press Freedom: Every Fifth Day a Journalist is Killed at Work
According to a report from Unesco, worldwide more than 700 reporters have been killed from 2006 to 2014 in the exercise of their profession. On International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, the OSCE Representative calls on participating States to step up their investigations.
November 2, 2015
Raids at Romanian Affiliate of VIG
A number of business locations of Omniasig, the Romanian affiliate of Austrian insurer VIG, were searched by the police. Several employees are accused of forgergy and abuse of authority.
May 14, 2014
New Serbian Government Wants Speedy EU Accession
The new Serbian government is determined to accelerate the EU accession progress.
May 2, 2014
Slovenia: ”Everything Will Stand Still”
Due to the current political crisis the fear about devastating impacts on the Slovenian economy is high.
April 28, 2014
Serbia: “Radical Measures” Needed to Tackle Grey Economy
Experts call for higher penalties to make tax evasion and gray economy less profitable and establish financial discipline.
April 14, 2014
Hypo Group: Former CEO Sentenced to Prison
Former CEO of Hypo and investor Tilo Berlin was sentenced to more than two years in prison.
April 9, 2014
Hypo Group too Expensive for BayernLB
According to an official expert, regional German lender BayernLB’s fatal decision to take over Hypo Group Alpe Adria was based on questionable company evaluations.
April 7, 2014
BayernLB: “Odd“ Sponsoring Contracts in Carinthia
Former managers of the German regional bank are under suspicion of having bribed then-governor of the Austrian province of Carinthia.
March 31, 2014
Serbia: Landslide Victory for Vucic
After Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic’s party saw an overwhelming victory in the early parliamentary elections the new government is facing a hard road ahead.
March 17, 2014
“Serbia Has to Become Economically and Politically Stable”
Prime Minister Dacic promised to continue to follow the path to an EU membership. Former Austrian Chancellor Gusenbauer underlines Serbia’s importance among Western Balkan states.
March 3, 2014
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