Major raid against organized crime and Hells Angels

The police have been taking action against organized crime since early morning with more than 1,000 emergency services. It is said to be a criminal network operating throughout Germany and Europe called the “Hells Angels”. According to the Duisburg police, several arrest warrants will be executed during the raids against a total of 71 suspects. In total, assets amounting to 48.6 million euros are to be confiscated.

According to information from the dpa news agency, around 140 objects are being searched. In the morning, a dpa reporter observed a very large police operation with special operations forces (SEK) at the address of an influential “Hells Angels” member in Duisburg.

Raids also in Belgium, Bulgaria and the Netherlands

The raids primarily affect properties in North Rhine-Westphalia. At the same time, according to the authorities, searches are taking place in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate and Berlin, as well as in Belgium, Bulgaria and the Netherlands.

Under criminal law, the defendants are particularly accused of forming a criminal organization, predatory and commercial extortion, gang and commercial fraud and commercial money laundering. It also involves weapons offenses, bodily harm and tax evasion. The accused are said to have channeled significant amounts of money into an artificial economic cycle through professional concealment. They are said to have invested the assets they acquired through crimes in companies and real estate.