The garage where a stolen BMW was recovered
POLICE in Fermanagh say they believe they may have smashed a nationwide car crime ring following a raid on a garage in Enniskillen.
Four men, of Russian and Lithuanian origin, were arrested after police swooped on the premises on the Shore Road on Tuesday.
They all appeared before Strabane Magistrates Court on Thursday in connection with what was described as a “sophisticated organised crime gang specialising in the theft of BMWs”.
In the dock were Rolandas Ruokis (30) of Birchgrove, Teemore, Jevgenij Drozdov (31) of Devon Road, Birmingham, Vitalijs Klagiss (29) of Brackenwood Drive, Dublin, and Igors Matejevs (34) of Padnall Court, Romford.
All defendants face a single charge of handling a BMW car that had been stolen in the Republic, however the PSNI say they believe the men are part of a much larger crime syndicate.
A PSNI Detective Constable Magee told the court that during an operation on May 27 police watched a BMW being driven into a garage owned by Ruokis on the Shore Road. The vehicle had already been confirmed by the garda to be stolen and when police raided the premises, they found all four defendants at the scene.
Apart from Ruokis, none of the men had been able to account for their being in the garage at the time. Ruokis told police that the stolen BMW had simply appeared on his premises. When pushed on why it was up on ramps when police arrived he could give no explanation, the court was told.
During follow up searches of the yard a variety of BMW motor parts were uncovered.
Other items, including a set of golf clubs and a child’s seat, were also found and police believe these to be linked to another stolen BMW.
The PSNI officer revealed that further car parts had been unearthed at Ruokis’s address in Teemore.
He added that gardai believe the finds are all linked to the theft of a number of BMWs which were stolen while the owners still had the keys in their possession.
During a search of Klagiss’s Dublin address, equipment believed to be used for cloning car keys was seized.
DC Magee also revealed that three months ago a premises in Mayobridge, Co Down, was searched and BMWs which had been “chopped up” uncovered. Items found in Klagiss’s house have been linked to that operation, the officer said.
No bail application was made on behalf of either Klagiss or Matejevs. Bail was applied for in the case of the other two defendants but was objected strongly to by the PSNI.
The investigating officer described Rolandas Ruokis as “an integral part of this organised crime gang”. He also said it was police belief that Ruokis posed a significant risk of flight.
In terms of Drozdov, the PSNI officer said that his Devon Road address had been searched and items, including his passport, had been found. This too gave rise to suspicion he could flee, DC Magee said.
District Judge Nigel Broderick described the case as “complicated” and accepted that it could be some time before all the evidence, including the car parts and six mobile phones, were examined.
Bail was denied for Drozdov but after hearing how Ruokis had been resident in Northern Ireland for the past six years and how he had significant roots in the Enniskillen area the judge agreed to grant bail in the sum of £500.
Among the conditions were a surety of £500 and that the defendant surrender his passport. Unusually, Ruokis’s wife was also ordered to turn over her passport and her national identity card. The accused was banned from carrying more than one mobile phone and any phone he has must not have internet access, the judge said.
The other three men were remanded in custody to appear before Enniskillen Magistrates Court on June 16.
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