Raid for money laundering network around "Hells Angels"

Early in the morning, the police searched apartments in several federal states and in other European countries: the authorities are targeting an international money laundering network around the "Hells Angels". Early Wednesday morning, the police took action against organised crime with more than 1,000 emergency personnel. It is said to be a criminal network operating throughout Germany and Europe with close links to the "Hells Angels". According to the Duisburg police, the raids against a total of 71 defendants were also intended to execute several arrest warrants and confiscate assets amounting to 48.6 million euros.

According to information from the dpa news agency, around 140 properties were searched. Investigations against police officers and municipal employees In the investigation in North Rhine-Westphalia, a police officer and two municipal employees from Duisburg were also targeted. According to the public prosecutor's office, they are being investigated on suspicion that they have passed on information obtained from their work to third parties. The WDR had previously reported on this.

A spokesman for the Duisburg public prosecutor's office told the dpa: "We can confirm that sufficient factual evidence has emerged in the course of the investigation that a police officer and two municipal employees have passed on information obtained from their work to third parties." In addition, another municipal employee from Duisburg is being prosecuted on suspicion of bribery "due to the Acceptance of cash payments for the granting of benefits" . Raids also in Belgium, Bulgaria and the Netherlands According to the authorities, searches are also taking place in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate and Berlin, as well as in Belgium, Bulgaria and the Netherlands. In particular, the other accused are criminally accused of forming a criminal association, predatory and commercial extortion, gang and commercial fraud and commercial money laundering. It also deals with weapons offences, assault and tax evasion.

The accused are said to have injected considerable amounts of money into an artificial economic cycle through professional concealment. They are said to have invested assets obtained through criminal offences in companies and real estate.