Last Updated on September 22, 2024 by Thomas Schumacher
A recent raid at Cologne’s Pascha brothel has led to new developments in an ongoing investigation targeting a smuggling gang. Prosecutors are now also looking into possible money laundering activities connected to the property.
Smuggling and money laundering
According to Senior Prosecutor Daniel Vollmert from the Düsseldorf Public Prosecutor’s Office, the raid is linked to a broader smuggling case. Investigators are exploring whether funds from the alleged smuggling operation were used to acquire or finance the brothel.
Evidence gathered during the Thursday raid includes financial records tied to the purchase of the Pascha property.
The focus of the investigation is on financial transactions linked to the brothel’s ownership. Investigators are analyzing whether assets connected to illegal activities were involved in the property’s acquisition. The brothel’s operations were not disrupted during the raid, as searches were limited to office spaces. The evidence gathered will take weeks, if not months, to fully examine, according to Prosecutor Vollmert.
The last raid took place a month ago
This is not the first time Pascha has been in the spotlight. Few months ago, authorities seized the property as part of a temporary measure in the same smuggling investigation. Owners of the eleven-story pink building are currently barred from selling it.
The smuggling network allegedly secured residency permits for wealthy individuals from China and Oman, according to the prosecutor’s office. In April, police raided properties in eight different states, and two lawyers from the Cologne area are suspected to be at the center of the operation. Additionally, there are concerns that public officials may have been bribed in connection with these activities.
Read our previous article about Pascha:
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