On Wednesday, April 17, German police carried out a large-scale raid in 8 federal states to crack down on the trafficking of residence permits and other illegal immigration activities, resulting in the arrest of 10 individuals.
In cities such as Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Cologne, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, and Aachen, over 1,000 police officers conducted searches at more than 100 residences, shops, and offices in western and southern Germany, leading to the apprehension of 10 individuals, including two lawyers. The primary focus area of the investigation was North Rhine-Westphalia.
According to reports by Deutsche Welle, the prosecutor’s office in Dusseldorf confirmed that out of the 10 arrested individuals, 4 were Chinese citizens.
As per German media reports, the suspects are accused of exploiting Germany’s special immigration laws for foreign skilled workers to illegally obtain residence permits for around 350 wealthy foreigners, charging fees ranging from 30,000 to 350,000 euros per person. The majority of these 350 foreigners are Chinese, with some residents from Arab countries as well.
To meet Germany’s immigration criteria, the implicated lawyers and their associates established fake companies and fabricated false addresses and salaries for applicants. The hefty fees they charged mostly went into their own pockets.
It is reported that the fake residence permits obtained by these foreigners came from the cities of Cologne and Solingen, as well as Rhein-Erft and Duesseldorf counties. One of the arrested suspects was a government employee at the Foreigners’ Registration Office in Duesseldorf county.
The police have stated that investigations are ongoing against 38 suspected members of the criminal gang and an additional 147 individuals suspected of paying for smuggling services. Federal police in nearby Sankt Augustin mentioned that the two arrested lawyers (one male and one female), aged 42 and 46 respectively, from the Cologne area, are the main suspects. Due to German privacy laws, the suspects’ names cannot be disclosed.
During Wednesday’s raids, a significant amount of physical evidence was seized, approximately 450,000 euros in cash was confiscated, 269 bank accounts were frozen, and 31 properties were seized.
Interior Minister of Germany, Nancy Faeser, expressed gratitude towards the police and prosecutors for their “major crackdown on international organized immigration smuggling activities.”
“In the fight against smuggling gangs, we need this kind of high-pressure investigation and sustained crackdown,” she added. “We will continue to take strict measures to combat organized immigration smuggling operations.”
Under German law, organizing illegal entry into the country for profit can result in a maximum of 15 years in prison.