Overview
- The coordinated operation, which took place on Wednesday, involved searches in five German states and in Belgium, Bulgaria and the Netherlands with a heavy focus on properties in Duisburg.
- Prosecutors say 14 people were arrested on warrants and investigators moved to identify and seize roughly €48.6 million in suspected criminal assets.
- Duisburg prosecutors have opened a probe into possible leaks after finding indications that a police officer and two municipal employees may have passed official information to suspects.
- Investigators are building a financial‑crime case that centers on a network of companies and real estate used to launder proceeds from drug sales, protection payments and the red‑light economy, with the Landesamt zur Bekämpfung der Finanzkriminalität and more than 1,000 officers taking part.
- Local businesses in Duisburg’s Vulkanstraße reported disruption from the searches, and local reporting says a former Hells Angels leader linked to an earlier stabbing had his home searched and was detained shortly after the raids.