Federal investigations underway across seven states, focusing on illicit employment involving individuals of the black community. - Investigation of Unlawful Employment Across Seven Regions
Last Wednesday, a significant operation was launched by German customs officers, who conducted raids on 40 locations across seven federal states: Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Schleswig-Holstein. The focus of the investigation remains on black market work, with the Hamburg Public Prosecutor's Office leading the investigation.
According to Sandra Preising, spokesperson for the Hamburg Main Customs Office, the raids were announced by the Hamburg Customs Office due to suspicion of black market work. During the raids, customs officers seized numerous pieces of evidence, including computers, time records, notes, and receipts. The types of locations raided were not specified, but they encompassed business premises, company headquarters, and residences.
The investigations focus on two main suspects who, along with eleven others, offered cleaning services, mainly for hotels. It is believed that the suspects set up a company network based in Hamburg to conceal employment relationships and evade social security contributions. The exact amount of damage will be determined after evaluating the extensive evidence secured.
No information about potential charges or arrests made during the raids was provided. However, it is estimated that the damage to health insurers and pension insurance providers is in the millions. The suspects are believed to have offered services in multiple federal states, including Hamburg.
In a separate development, the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) conducted a coordinated raid targeting fraudulent Chinese imports, causing an estimated €700 million in losses to the EU through customs and VAT fraud. This investigation involved searches in Bulgaria, Greece, France, and Spain, but it did not specifically focus on the regions listed in the query.
In another notable incident, German police conducted a large-scale operation targeting a major illegal cannabis network near Luxembourg. The operation involved the arrest of 27 people and the search of 27 properties across Rhineland-Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Hesse. The investigation was led by the Wittlich criminal police and the Trier police headquarters, following months of undercover work.
For specific information about black market work raids in the mentioned German regions, detailed local reports or official press releases would be required. It is important to note that these raids are part of ongoing efforts by German authorities to combat black market activities and ensure fair employment practices.
- The Hamburg Public Prosecutor's Office, leading the investigation on black market work, is focusing on a company network in Hamburg, where suspects, including the two main suspects, are believed to have evaded employment policy and social security contributions by offering services in multiple federal states, such as Hamburg.
- The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) conducted a coordinated raid, not focusing on the regions mentioned in the query, targeting fraudulent Chinese imports, causing an estimated €700 million in losses to the EU through customs and VAT fraud, while local reports in Germany are required for specific information about black market work raids in the mentioned German regions.
