Overview

• More than 70 people are accused of withholding wages, organized smuggling of workers, and tax evasion linked to subcontractor chains in southern Bavaria.
• Coordinated searches on October 7 and 9 targeted company offices, a tax adviser and homes, seizing extensive records and securing bank funds and real estate worth about €3 million.
• Authorities estimate at least €20 million in damage to public funds and social insurers from unregistered labor and unpaid contributions.
• Eight arrest warrants have been obtained, four suspects are in custody, others remain at large, and one defendant is already on trial before the Munich I regional court.
• Investigators say shelf fillers—many reportedly Afghan nationals paid below minimum wage—are treated as victims, while a supermarket employee is under investigation and top executives are not suspected.