Duisburg's Late-Night Crackdown: Pub Raids and Beyond
Bustling through Duisburg's night scene on Saturday, the city was hit with a surprising wave of police activity. A coalition of authorities, including police forces, the public prosecutor's office, the main customs office, and various other partners, joined forces in an extensive operation aimed at combating criminality, not just clan and rocker crime.
The operation, carried out in the north of Duisburg, targeted several cafes, tea rooms, and restaurants. The investigations found themselves delving into various transgressions: small quantities of marijuana in a Kaiser-Wilhelm-Straße café, leading to criminal proceedings against the owners for drug possession violations. A restaurant on Hagedornstraße, meanwhile, was suspected of tax evasion; during the subsequent search, tax investigators seized computer systems and started criminal tax proceedings. Customs officers accused the alleged operator of wage embezzlement and withholding.
Overall, this large-scale deployment led to a total of 15 properties being checked, 139 individuals being inspected, two arrests, 11 criminal charges, 21 administrative offenses, several warnings, and 4 gaming machines being sealed. One establishment reportedly closed as a result of the crackdown.
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The operation in Duisburg targeted an international organized crime group, 'Ndrangheta—an Italian mafia-style criminal syndicate. With operations spanning from South America to Europe, this group's narcotic pipeline played a significant role in their illegal activities in Duisburg. During the operation, authorities dismantled parts of 'Ndrangheta's operations and network by initiating charges, making arrests, and even closing down associated establishments.
- A combination of police forces, partners, and subject matter experts united in a large-scale campaign to combat criminality in Duisburg.
- The 'ndrina (a subgroup within 'Ndrangheta) was targeted for alleged involvement in drug trafficking and other illegal activities, with various establishments being inspected.
- Authorities initiated charges against several individuals for drug possession, tax evasion, and embezzlement, and numerous arrests and administrative offenses were made.
- Collaboration between various police network partners facilitated this wide-scale operation, targeting several establishments in different Duisburg districts.
- The crackdown, aimed at reducing criminality in Duisburg, closed one particular establishment associated with illegal activities and denied the organization a foothold in the city.
Sources: and Enrichment Data
