Customs office in Münster conducts raid on nail salon in Bocholt, estimating around 480,000 Euros in potential damages
The Main Customs Office Münster, in collaboration with various departments, has carried out extensive search measures in several locations across Germany, as reported by news aktuell.
The Public Prosecutor's Office Münster executed search measures today, involving personnel from the Main Customs Office Münster, the Customs Investigation Office, the Main Customs Office Berlin, the Tax Investigation Office, and the Aliens Office Bocholt. Searches were conducted at a nail salon in Bocholt, a private apartment in Bocholt, and several locations in Oberhausen, Mülheim an der Ruhr, and Berlin.
During the searches, a mattress camp with six sleeping places was found in the basement of a residential building, suspected of serving as accommodation for the nail salon's employees. A female employee was also found to be living and sleeping in a windowless basement room of the nail salon.
The Main Customs Office Münster Press spokeswoman, Britta Flothmann, can be contacted at 0251-4814-1304 or via email at [email protected].
Investigations are ongoing, with the FKS of the Main Customs Office Münster carrying out further investigations on behalf of the Public Prosecutor's Office Münster. There is suspicion of social security fraud and the illegal employment of foreign workers. The industry practice, as revealed from other proceedings, involves paying employees 50 percent of the turnover.
The turnover declared to the authorities is significantly lower than the actual turnover, leading to an estimated damage of around 480,000 euros. Up to nine persons of Vietnamese origin are suspected of working illegally in the studio. The identities of these individuals have not been publicly disclosed.
The evaluation of secured exhibits will keep the investigators of the customs and tax investigation office busy in the coming weeks. For more information about the Main Customs Office Münster, visit their official website at www.zoll.de.
