Customs strikes: major raid in Stuttgart and Reutlingen due to fraud!

Customs strikes: major raid in Stuttgart and Reutlingen due to fraud!

On Tuesday, July 15, 2025, customs officers searched five buildings in Stuttgart and Reutlingen. The operation was directed against the owner of a moving and clearing company who is accused of not having registered more than a dozen of his employees with social insurance. These investigations concern alleged evasion of social security contributions, which could have serious consequences for everyone involved. Loud Stuttgart News The company's employees remained in the dark about the illegal activities.

The searches took place both at the suspect's business premises and at his home address. A total of around 60 customs employees were deployed to determine the extent of the suspected fraud and to secure evidence. This could possibly be just the tip of the iceberg, as similar cases can also be observed in other federal states. As part of a large-scale operation called “Anserem”, suspected fraud and illegal work were also uncovered in six other federal states.

Nationwide searches

There had already been another remarkable operation in Landshut, in which over 200 customs officers were involved. A total of 34 residential and commercial properties were searched. These synchronized controls are designed to combat chain fraud and other forms of organized undeclared work. The suspicion is that companies gain unlawful advantages through false invoices and services not provided and operate in a black money cycle in order to avoid social security contributions and taxes. Loud Zoll.de The estimated damage amounts to at least 1.5 million euros for the state and social coffers.

In 2024, around 766 million euros were lost through undeclared work in Germany alone. It is estimated that almost 97,000 investigations were initiated and there were over 25,000 employer audits. This situation not only represents a financial problem, but also endangers the foundations of a fair working world. The Federal Ministry of Finance emphasizes the importance of strict controls to ensure compliance with social security reporting obligations and to prevent exploitation. The powers of the Financial Control for Undeclared Employment (FKS) were expanded by law so that it can now also take greater action against illegal forms of employment Bundesfinanzministerium.de.

The latest developments clearly show that intensive attention must be paid to combating undeclared work and ensuring fair working conditions. Customs has shown a good hand by taking drastic measures to crack down on the numerous illegitimate practices. The road to greater justice in the world of work is a long one, but such interventions are an important step in the right direction.