Overview

• Approximately 400 officers from police, customs, and municipal authorities conducted raids in bars, discos, and brothels across six cities in North Rhine-Westphalia on May 10 and 11.
• The operation focused on suspected connections between the bouncer industry and organized crime groups, including clans and biker networks.
• Preliminary results in Duisburg revealed inspections of 75 individuals and 50 premises, leading to multiple administrative violations, criminal charges, and five arrests.
• Authorities are investigating undeclared work, forged qualifications, tax evasion, and opaque corporate structures linked to security firms with ties to organized crime.
• The raids are part of NRW's long-term 'needle pricks' strategy, targeting minor violations to disrupt and expose larger criminal networks.