Germany Charges Five Over Alleged Chinese Prostitution Smuggling Ring

email: online@newsofbahrain.com 

Frankfurt: German prosecutors have accused five suspects of running an organised smuggling and prostitution network that allegedly brought scores of Chinese women into Germany without valid residency permits for sex work.

Prosecutors in Frankfurt said on Friday that the accused are suspected of operating the illegal enterprise over the past three years across multiple cities in Germany, where prostitution is legal but tightly regulated.

Authorities allege that a 43-year-old Chinese man and a 35-year-old Chinese woman led the operation, using a network of telephone operators in China to arrange bookings.

The pair also face tax evasion allegations for allegedly failing to pay nearly €3 million ($3.5 million) in taxes and a further €3.5 million in social insurance contributions linked to the business.

According to investigators, the man handled client acquisition while the woman managed daily earnings and arranged more than 500 hotel rooms, rented flats and other locations nationwide for prostitution activities.

A 42-year-old Chinese woman is accused of allowing her massage parlour to be used for prostitution, while a 46-year-old Chinese woman allegedly acted as an on-site manager.

A 22-year-old German man is also accused of working as a driver, transporting the women and collecting payments.

German police raided 40 properties across the country in May 2025 as part of the investigation.

Prosecutors have now asked a court in Darmstadt to accept criminal charges in the case.