The investigators did not reveal what type of “evidence” the search operation was about. One thing is certain: After the coup, in which immensely valuable jewelery with an insured value of almost 114 million euros disappeared – not only in terms of cultural history – many questions are still unanswered.
The operation in the Neukölln ship canal in Berlin had already begun on Sunday. Around 20 police divers from several German federal states are involved. According to German media reports, diving again took place on Monday on the Kiehlufer near Treptower Straße, according to the Dresden police department in the German state of Saxony.
Find a needle in a haystack
The dives were intended to search around 150 meters of the channel for unspecified “evidence” related to the November 2019 burglary, authorities said, without giving more details about the aim of the operation.
“The measures will take some time,” it said. Further information is currently not possible in view of the ongoing investigations. The result of the search operation cannot currently be informed either. The search operation on the partly ice-covered canal is likely to be like finding the proverbial needle in a haystack.
Enormous – also ideal – value
Valuable jewel jewelery from the 18th century was stolen in the burglary of the Green Vault in the east German city of Dresden on November 25, 2019.
The loot had an estimated insurance value of at least 113.8 million euros. The perpetrators also left about another million euros in damage to property. In mid-December, the German authorities were able to secure a significant part of the loot.
Royal Jewels
There were a total of 31 objects or parts thereof. Among them were the well-known hat ornaments (Heron Stutz) and the breast star of the Polish White Eagle Order from the diamond set. On the other hand, the diamond epaulette with the “Saxon White” that was damaged during the theft and the large breast bow of Amalie Auguste, Queen of Saxony from 1854 to 1877, are missing.
Notorious clan suspected behind Tat
The investigators referred to agreements – how they could have looked in detail is unknown – in the context of the ongoing court proceedings in Dresden against six suspects. They all belong to the Remmo or Rammo clan from Berlin, an extended family with an estimated 1,000 members with roots in Turkey or the Middle East. The family is partly attributed to clan crime, the allegations against them range from extortion to robbery and drug trafficking to murder.
Treasury of the Wettin princes
The Green Vault in Dresden is the historical museum collection of the former treasury of the Wettin princes, it contains objects from the Renaissance to Classicism (up to around 1840). The collection of green columns in the original vaulted rooms has its name. The collection has been open to the public for almost 300 years. The collection is part of the Dresden State Art Collections.
The trial for the burglary in the early hours of November 25, 2019 will not continue until next year. The main hearing, which was actually scheduled for December 20, at which explanations from the suspects had been eagerly awaited, had to be postponed due to the illness of a judge, as the Dresden Regional Court announced. The next date is now scheduled for January 10th.
