A large-scale operation targeting a suspected network of cleaning service providers was carried out by German customs officials on Wednesday. Approximately 450 officers of the Financial Investigation Department for Illegal Work (FIW) executed searches at 40 locations across seven federal states, according to a statement released by the Hamburg Main Customs Office.
The operation focused on two primary suspects and eleven additional individuals believed to have offered cleaning services, primarily to hotels. Searches were conducted in Niedersachsen, Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Berlin, Bremen, Hessen and Nordrhein-Westfalen.
Investigators seized substantial evidence, including payroll records, invoices and computer equipment. Specialized units secured access to one location due to a potential hazard situation. The individuals are suspected of operating a company network to obscure employment relationships and evade social security contributions.
Initial estimates suggest the potential loss to social security funds could reach into the seven-figure range, according to a spokesperson for the Hamburg Main Customs Office. The investigation, being led by the Hamburg Public Prosecutor’s Office, is ongoing.
