Speurders have stolen romanians who have stolen millions of euros in price pigeons in Benelux (inland)

Since last year, the Gulf of thefts has caused great concern in the pigeon sports world. Especially since the perpetrators did not go randomly in the Duiventil, but had the specific target on price pigeons. For example, they left with the precious specimens that can quickly change ownership for a few tens of thousands of euros.

Numerous pigeon fanciers from Belgium, but also the Netherlands and Luxembourg, fell victim to the Romanian gang. The FGP started the investigation when 33 pigeons were stolen from Luc Odeurs from Ordingen (Sint-Truiden) in the night of 5 to 6 January. In addition, the pigeon that participated in the Grand Prix of Barcelona in 2020 – say the Tour de France for the pigeon sport – and was the first of the 6,178 Belgian participating pigeons to travel the 1,105 kilometers. « My life’s work has been destroyed, » said an emotional Odeurs.

The perpetrators visited the winners of international competitions through, among other things, social media

Anna Degraen

Spokesperson Parket Limburg

After the theft in Sint-Truiden, the investigators bite in the file led by an investigating judge. The track led to an international organization. « The gang was very shrewd, » says Anna Degraen, spokesperson for the public prosecutor of Limburg. « The perpetrators visited the winners of international competitions through, among other things, social media. »

Carefully planned

The thefts were carefully planned to leave as few traces as possible. For example, the suspects used different vehicles that could not be linked directly to them. The communication then went in a way that made it difficult for the investigators to trace them. Yet the FGP managed to locate the suspects. Various addresses in Vilvoorde came into the picture.

During a simultaneous judicial action with house searches, the investigators charged two suspects on 31 March. The two men aged 24 and 45 appeared for the investigating judge and were arrested. They are currently staying in jail. During the raids in Vilvoorde, the investigators found a hundred pigeons.

71 other pigeons were found during a house search in Romania – about 1,500 kilometers away – with the parents of one of the suspects. In addition, a third suspect was arrested. « It is a 40-year-old Romanian that is handed over to Belgium, » explains Degraen. « Two other suspects have been identified, but they are still being sought. We are currently linking at least fifteen facts to the gang. The FGP Limburg continues the investigation under the leadership of the investigating judge. »

Tabby

In this way they further investigate what the Romanians intended with the pigeons. After all, it has become difficult to sell stolen price pigeons at a correct price without proof of ownership and pedigree. In shady environments, the pigeons can be sold for much lower sums. Possibly it was the intention to use the pigeons to grow and then sell offspring. Something like that is accompanied by new and forged family trees.

The found pigeons are now, as far as possible, again with the rightful owners. For this, the police received the help of the pigeon lovers association. On the basis of DNA testing and a viewing day, the pigeon fanciers were allowed to welcome their birds again. Among other things, the descendants of a couple of top breeding pigeons and the winners of the prestigious big prizes of Marseille and Barcelona are again in their familiar pigeon killer.