Schleswig-Holstein - Böhmermann took apart the hype company More Nutrition - now customs have raided it
Around 170 customs officers have been deployed to carry out a major raid at Quality Group GmbH in Schleswig-Holstein, the company behind the hyped nutritional supplement brand More Nutrition. The company had recently become the focus of public attention due to critical reporting in Jan Böhmermann's program "ZDF Magazin Royale".
According to the main customs office in Itzehoe, investigators searched two of the company's sites in Kaltenkirchen and Elmshorn near Hamburg on Wednesday night. Officers from the federal police and the immigration authorities were also involved. "The operation was triggered by an anonymous tip-off about 30 suspected illegal employees in the logistics area of this company, which could not be dispelled by a preliminary examination of business documents," explained a spokesperson for the main customs office.
Customs raid at the Quality Group in Schleswig-Holstein
According to the information, a total of 344 employees were checked. "84 people are suspected of working without a residence permit and without a valid work permit," the spokesperson continued. "In addition, there was extensive evidence of employees who were not properly registered for social security and violations of the minimum wage." Criminal proceedings have been initiated against those responsible.
Four employees who are wanted have been arrested. They are said to have failed to pay fines. Two of the people checked are said to have used forged ID cards during the inspection - they are now being investigated for forgery of documents.
More Nutrition was a topic on "ZDF Magazin Royale" with Jan Böhmermann
The Quality Group confirmed the raid on its premises to the "Hamburger Abendblatt" newspaper, but denied any blame. "Last evening, customs checked the work permits of employees and employees of external temporary employment agencies at two locations. These are routine checks that the authorities carry out unannounced at irregular intervals. As an employer, we naturally comply with all regulations and support the authorities in their work," the company told the newspaper, which first reported on the case, on Wednesday. The Quality Group could not be reached by telephone on Thursday afternoon.
According to customs, the operation was one of "the largest audit measures of the financial control of illegal employment of the main customs office in Itzehoe in 2023".
On November 10, Quality Group and More Nutrition were the subject of "ZDF Magazin Royale" with Jan Böhmermann and the research program "STRG_F" from Norddeutscher Rundfunk. Among other things, the reports questioned the effectiveness of the nutritional supplements and denounced the aggressive and allegedly illegal influencer marketing strategy( stern reported). According to the research, the company has also repeatedly tried to evade inspections by the authorities by relocating its headquarters.
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- The major raid at Quality Group GmbH in Schleswig-Holstein, known for its nutritional supplement brand More Nutrition, was conducted by over 170 customs officers.
- The operation at the Elmshorn and Kaltenkirchen sites of the company near Hamburg was carried out by investigators from the main customs office in Itzehoe, in collaboration with the federal police and immigration authorities.
- The raid was initiated due to an anonymous tip-off about 30 suspected illegal employees at the company, which could not be disproven after examining business documents.
- Customs officials checked a total of 344 employees, with 84 suspected of working without a residence permit or a valid work permit.
- Besides, there was evidence of employees not properly registered for social security and violations of the minimum wage, triggering criminal proceedings against the responsible parties.
- This major audit measure by the Itzehoe main customs office was one of the largest in 2023 regarding financial control of illegal employment.
- The Quality Group and More Nutrition had previously been the subject of Jan Böhmermann's ZDF Magazin Royale program in Hamburg, criticizing the company's influencer marketing strategy and questioning its nutritional supplement effectiveness.
Source: www.stern.de
