Freight fraud in Slovenske Bistrisce: damage exceeds one million euros, two indictments
Maribor police have indicted representatives of two companies in the area of Slovenske Bistrisce for aiding fraud involving the redirection of lorries. The total damage to transport companies amounts to approximately 1,036,000 euros.
Redirected lorries, copper and solar panels stolen
Maribor police filed a criminal indictment in late May 2026 against two legal representatives of companies from the Slovenske Bistrisce area, according to 24ur. The accused are suspected of involvement in two criminal offences of aiding fraud, through which transport companies were collectively damaged for approximately 1,036,000 euros.
How the fraud worked
The perpetrators exploited publicly available data from a company in the Trebnje area and, through false representation in administrative procedures, obtained transport contracts at EU level. Using the identity of this company, they then concluded contracts with Slovenian and foreign hauliers, who accepted goods from suppliers abroad.
Once the drivers were on route, the perpetrators changed the delivery location in communication with them and redirected the goods to the area of Maribor Police Directorate. Through false representation, they convinced the persons responsible for receiving the cargo and the drivers to allow the goods to be unloaded — after which the cargo was stolen.
2026 indictment: copper from Spain and Germany
Anita Kovačič, representative of Maribor Police Directorate, explained that the two indicted representatives assisted unknown co-perpetrators in 2024 who had exploited the name of the Trebnje company. On this basis, they obtained contracts for the transport of copper goods — from Spain to Italy and from Germany to Slovenia — and engaged a Slovenian and Bosnian transport company to carry out the delivery.
"The drivers of these companies delivered the cargo to a company in the Slovenske Bistrisce area, not to the customers, who were damaged by this act for approximately 450,000 euros," Kovačič said.
Continuation of the 2024 investigation
The current indictment is a continuation of a broader investigation. Police had already filed a criminal indictment in 2024 for three fraudulent offences against three suspects. These individuals also exploited the name of the Trebnje company and stole 45 tonnes of copper wire and approximately 44 tonnes of solar panels. They damaged Croatian and Slovenian transport companies for a combined total of 586,000 euros.
Kovačič emphasised that all the individuals mentioned had been previously dealt with for various criminal offences.
Unified modus operandi
According to Kovačič, all the criminal offences under investigation involve the same method of operation. The perpetrators first obtained publicly available data from an established transport company and carried out registration procedures in its name to obtain transport contracts. They then agreed with domestic and foreign hauliers to collect goods from suppliers abroad, but changed the delivery instructions during transport and redirected the goods to a location under the control of the perpetrators.
Through a combination of false representation and changes to the delivery location, they convinced the drivers and recipients to hand over the cargo to the wrong persons — after which the goods disappeared.
Prison sentence of up to eight years
For the criminal offence of aiding fraud as described in the indictment, the law provides for a prison sentence of between one and eight years. The investigation continues; the identity of the unknown co-perpetrators remains the subject of police work.
Source: 24ur