Large-scale smuggling raid in Germany – suspicion of bribery
Published: Wednesday, Apr 17th 2024, 10:50
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Ten people have been arrested in a large-scale raid against an international smuggling gang in Germany. Wealthy foreign nationals are said to have been recruited for smuggling, mainly from China and the Arab world.
The main suspects are two 42 and 46-year-old lawyers from the Cologne area, as the Sankt Augustin Federal Police Headquarters announced on Wednesday. In total, the investigation is targeting 38 suspected gang members and 147 other people who are believed to have been smuggled. "With the prospect of a permanent residence permit, the suspects are said to have paid amounts of between 30,000 and 350,000 euros to the law firms," it said.
The suspects are therefore suspected of using the money to set up bogus companies, finance alleged residences and falsify alleged wage payments, among other things. According to the investigation, they enriched themselves with "not inconsiderable amounts".
The residence permits were obtained from the immigration offices of the cities of Kerpen and Solingen as well as the Rhine-Erft district and the district of Düren, the report continued. One of the ten suspects arrested is also an employee of the district of Düren, who is said to have been significantly involved in the smuggling and to have received bribes for it.
As part of the large-scale operation, which was still ongoing on Wednesday morning, search warrants were executed in the north-western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia in: Aachen, Bergheim, Bergisch-Gladbach, Düren, Düsseldorf, Frechen, Heimbach, Kerpen, Cologne, Kreuzau, Pulheim, Ratingen, Roetgen, Siegburg and Solingen. Searches were also carried out in Berlin, Frankfurt am Main, Freiburg, Hamburg, Hoppstädten-Weiersbach, Hüttlingen, Landau in der Pfalz, Mainz, Munich, Oberursel, Quickborn, Überlingen and Wilhelmsdorf.
"So far, extensive evidence and not inconsiderable assets have been secured, including around 210,000 euros in cash," the statement reads. Further details are to be announced this afternoon by the Düsseldorf public prosecutor's office.
©Keystone/SDA
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