Germany busts group suspected of procuring visas for wealthy Chinese

Three people were detained in Germany on Wednesday in police raids targeting a suspected people-smuggling network believed to have facilitated the illegal entry of Chinese nationals into the country.

Some 750 officers searched 38 properties in nine of Germany’s 16 federal states, including Berlin, prosecutors and police said.

The three suspects were detained in the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein, where the group is said to be based, according to police. One of the three has since been remanded in custody.

The network is believed to have helped a large number of Chinese nationals enter and stay in Germany, charging up to €230,000 (US$260,790) per case.

Prosecutors in Flensburg first launched investigations in October 2023 on suspicion of commercial and organised people’s smuggling.

The suspects were said to have looked for wealthy Chinese clients online, promising to help them move to Germany via a new accelerated government scheme designed to attract skilled workers.

  

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