Dresden Museum Heist

In November 2019, 4,300 gems were stolen from the Green Vault Museum in Dresden in a high-profile burglary. The gems, which make up 21 different pieces, are worth more than 113 million euros and have impressive historical significance. Ministry of Culture officials have gone so far as to say that the jewels possess "priceless material value."

Six men have been arrested in Germany and are facing charges. The defendants are all under the age of 30 and are charged with gang theft and arson, among other things. Each of the six men could serve up to 10 years in prison for the crimes they are accused of. These defendants are not only linked by their young age, but also by the fact that they share the same organized crime family, the "Remmo Clan". The Remmo clan is Germany's most notorious crime family and has plagued the country since the late 20th century.

Each of the 6 Remmo Clan men were charged for their crimes and are now serving their sentences in German prisons. This heist, which german authorities have described the heist as the "largest heist in modern German history, illuminates the continued significance of organized international crime. In the United States, especially on the West Coast, we view organized crime through the lens of gangs and gang violence. La Cosa Nostra, and general American-based crime families have dwindled in their power and cultural significance as we’ve moved into the present day. This event reveals that international crime families are still prevalent.

Comments

Dr. Cornel West and Dr. Robert George Equip the Poly Community with the Tools to Combat Groupthink and Engage in Productive Discourse

T his evening, Poly students, Jason Mayo, Megan Ha and Opal Hetherington impressively facilitated a hugely impactful conversation with Drs. Cornel West and Robert George. In our current sociopolitical climate, our Poly community will certainly benefit from what we collectively learned tonight. Despite their diverging ideological and political viewpoints, the two intellects’ relationship “extends beyond friendship and into brotherhood.” "Love is not reducible to politics or public policy," shared Dr. George at the beginning of the program. To me, this sentiment was consistently reinforced throughout their time with us. Their brotherhood, built on the foundation of truth-seeking, and seemingly epitomizing true friendship, served as proof of Dr. George's statement. When asked about discourse, Dr. George defined civility for the audience- outlining the importance of listening from a place of wanting to learn; acknowledging the possibility that "I coul...

Saudi Arabia Executes 81 Men in 24 Hours

Marking the largest mass execution in decades, Saudi Arabia executed 81 men on March 12. Each of these men were reported to have been convicted for various violent or terrorist-related crimes. 37 of them were reported Saudi nationals who were accused of attempted assassination of Saudi security officers. It is important to assert that these accusations come directly from the historically corrupt interior ministry. Countries using the death penalty are falling to the minority, but Saudi Arabia has been consistent in its enforcement of this punishment. With that said, this most recent execution surpassed the 67 executions reported in Saudi Arabia in all of 2021. This day stands out in human and Saudi history, as the largest government-sanctioned execution on a given day. In 1980, a shocking but lesser 63 people were executed in one day. The kingdom’s utilization of the death penalty has caused many accusations of human rights violations in recent years, especially as it relates to religi...

Drought Plagues Iran

While Hassan Rouhani closes out his term as President of Iran, the Islamic Republic is facing a serious water shortage. Rouhani has enlisted the government to aid areas that have been the most seriously impacted by the drought. Many report that the drought is a direct cause of global warming. I found it interesting that Iran, a country that supplies much of the world's oil (a fossil fuel), is experiencing first hand the effects of climate change, something that is caused- in part- by the burning of fossil fuels around the world. The drilling required to harness the oil has also impacted the natural landscape of the country, disrupting ecosystems and artificially carving away at the land. Because Iran’s economy, as well as the world’s oil needs rely so heavily on the exportation and distribution of oil, it is not as though Iran will implement tactics to minimize the exportation of this oil in the face of the drought. While the drought is certainly a result of environmental factors, ...

International Musings

Search This Blog