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German Police Dismantle Smuggling Network Exploiting EU Visa Program

Nationwide raids target Schleswig-Holstein-based ring accused of smuggling 100 Chinese nationals using fraudulent employment schemes.

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Beamte durchsuchen 40 Objekte bundesweit im Kampf gegen Schleuserkriminalität. Foto: picture alliance/dpa | Mike Müller
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Overview

  • Federal police conducted coordinated raids across nine German states, involving 750 officers and searches of 38 properties.
  • Three suspects, including a 44-year-old man and two individuals from Husum, were arrested and placed in pre-trial detention.
  • The network allegedly charged up to €230,000 per client to secure EU Blue Cards through sham employment contracts.
  • Authorities seized extensive digital and physical evidence, froze over €5 million in assets, and confiscated large sums of cash.
  • Investigators are analyzing evidence to uncover potential ties to broader smuggling operations or corruption within local authorities.