Organized Crime

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

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

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

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

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

US Ambassador Kennedy Meets Austrian Officials to Strengthen Bilateral Relations

US Ambassador to Austria Victoria Kennedy has been meeting with various Austrian officials, including President Van der Bellen, Chancellor Nehammer, Foreign Minister Schallenberg, and Interior Minister Karner. Read what the ambassador is doing to strengthen bilateral ties between the US and Austria.

March 4, 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

State of Qatar Reviews Cooperation with UNODC

The Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vienna, Ghada Waly, met with a Qatari delegation, including the Permanent Representative of Qatar to the UNODC, Sultan Salmeen Al-Mansouri, to discuss further cooperation between Qatar and the UNODC. Read what the Qatari delegation conveyed to the executive director.

November 18, 2021

Strengthening Bilateral Economic Relations: Austria's Linhart in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan

Foreign Minister Linhart is visiting Central Asia with a business delegation to attend the first EU-Central Asia Economic Forum and discuss economic relations with various government representatives. The foreign minister's trip includes stops in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. Read about Linhart's agenda and what topics will be discussed.

November 5, 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

Federal Minister Nehammer: Joining Forces with Bavaria in the Fight Against Organized Crime and Trafficking

Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann and Austria's Karl Nehammer intensify cooperation in the fight against human trafficking and organized crime. The two politicians have come together for a working meeting in Vienna.

August 28, 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