Rebound three years after the spectacular burglary of the Dresden museum. A “considerable” part of the priceless stolen jewels were found in Berlin, in the middle of the trial of the suspects, the police and the prosecution announced on Saturday. This break-in in the Grünes Gewölbe (“Green Vault”) museum, a high place of Saxon heritage, struck people at the end of 2019 with its sophistication and the amount of the loot, greater than 100 million euros. In all, 31 complete pieces or fragments were found on Saturday night in Berlin by investigators and police from Dresden, capital of Saxony.
Among them are the “Breast Star of the Polish Order of the White Eagle”, set with diamonds, and the “Hat Jewel”, counting almost 300 diamonds. Other pieces are missing, however, including a brooch that belonged to Queen Amalie Auguste of Saxony.
A 49 carat diamond
This discovery comes during the trial which opened in January of six suspects, including two minors at the time of the facts, tried for this theft. Members of organized crime, they are suspected of having broken into the famous museum of Dresden, a baroque city in the east of the country, on November 25, 2019. 21 jewels were stolen, set in all with more than 4,300 diamonds, including one of 49 carats, for a total insured value of at least 113.8 million euros. The loot had not been found until now and the defendants had never spoken at the trial.
However, most of their catch was found thanks to “exploratory talks” conducted between the defense and the prosecution, with a view to a possible settlement in this trial and the return of the still existing loot. The authorities say no more on Saturday and refer to the next hearing of this trial next Tuesday for new developments.
The seized items have already been transferred from Berlin to Dresden under the protection of special police forces. They must be examined in particular by specialists in art collections in Dresden who will verify their authenticity and completeness. The museum, one of the oldest in Europe, has an incomparable collection of treasures made up of goldsmithery, precious stones, porcelain, ivory or amber sculptures, bronzes and containers set with precious stones.
A criminal gang of Lebanese origin
Arrested in November 2020 in Berlin after months of videotapes and DNA analysis, the suspects belong to a criminal gang of Lebanese origin very active in Germany, known as the “Remmo clan”. They are judged in particular for the offenses of “aggravated theft in an organized gang” and “particularly aggravated arson”. They risk 10 years in prison. Before their offence, the criminals had lit a fire at an electrical transformer near the museum in order to cut off the mains supply. They also set fire to their vehicle. Forty other people, still wanted, would also be involved in this operation.
Well established in the popular and bohemian Berlin district of Neukölln, the “Remmo clan” is already involved in the theft of a giant gold coin of 100 kilos, worth around 3.75 million euros, stolen in 2017 from the Bode-Museum in Berlin and no doubt melted down. Convictions have already been pronounced in this case, in particular against two defendants in the Dresden trial.