Almost 400 customs investigators use a raid in several federal states against undeclared work in the construction industry. Since the early hours of the morning, 36 residential and business premises have been searched for several construction companies, the Cologne main customs office said. The focus is on North Rhine-Westphalia-but also in Rhineland-Palatinate, Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria and Bremen, civil servants of the financial control of undeclared work.
“We have enforced arrest warrants in Cologne, Leverkusen and Bergisch-Gladbach against two women and five men aged 20 to 60,” said a spokesman. Special units of customs and federal police are also deployed.
The focus of the investigation is 13 people who are said to have operated various construction companies as a gang. According to the investigation, the employees were not registered or not properly registered for social security. In addition, wages were paid out black. According to estimates, this resulted in damage of around 15 million euros. It is determined because of gang -based withholding and misappropriation of wages and tax evasion.
Also IT forensicists in action
“Extensive covert investigations have been preceded by our current access,” said the customs spokesman. “With the simultaneous search of all apartments and vehicles of the suspects as well as the subsequent interrogation of the accused and witnesses, we are now entering the open phase of the investigation.”
The next thing is to evaluate material and secure evidence. Therefore, IT forensics teams and four cash detection dogs of customs are also used in the searches.
