Inspector Valentin Szaga-Doktor of the State Criminal Police Office in Vienna, Austria, leads the Central Office for Combating Rip-Deal Crime (Rip-Deal Unit Vienna). He is a founding member and co-initiator of this unit, which aims to counter the globally operating and organized rip-deal clan scene of the Southwest Balkans.
Valentin is skilled in theft crime, cryptocurrency crime, robbery, counterfeit crime, fraud crime, and managing confidential informants/undercover investigations. His notable achievements include the successful operation “OP DALLAS 2024,” which led to the dismantling of a Netherlands-based rip-deal organized crime group, resulting in multiple arrests and the conviction of the main perpetrator. Another significant success was “OP NIPOTE,” which targeted an organized rip-deal gang from Austria, the Netherlands, and Italy, causing over €2.2 million in damages and leading to a public manhunt for a leading member of the group.
In addition to his work with the Rip-Deal Unit, Valentin is a founding member and co-initiator of the “AFA Planquadrat,” a civilian task force within the Foreign Police and Detention Department (AFA) of the Vienna Police Department, aimed at combating illegal residence and related issues. He is also a founding member and co-initiator of the special investigation group “AG NAG Fälschungen,” which focuses on combating organized residence permit fraud and human smuggling, as well as associated social benefit fraud.
Valentin’s diverse skills and extensive experience make him a key figure in the fight against various forms of organized crime, both in Austria and internationally. He also acted as an intermediary with French police for a private investigation run by Michael Roberts, Stingforce co-founder, that resulted in the arrest of six criminals in a raid in Paris in January 2025, which involved almost 200 French police officers.
