Building process - Unannounced labor investigations at "flying roofers"?
On Monday, "flying roofers" were at the center of federal searches in three states: Osnabrück and Leer (Lower Saxony), Berlin, and Hamburg. The authorities believe these individuals were part of an illegal network of companies involved in black-market work. Prosecutors revealed that they are targeting 36 suspected individuals.
Charges against them include embezzlement, as well as operating without registering their employees. In some cases, entire companies were not even registered. According to a spokesperson for the prosecution, these people are referred to as "flying roofers" because they offer their services through ads in newspapers or directly at homes, demanding cash payouts without receipts.
A massive operation, involving 590 customs officers, customs officers, and around 700 police officers and policewomen including special forces, conducted over 100 search warrants at business premises and apartments. Seized items include computers, mobile phones, and seven firearms. The collected evidence is now being examined. Investigators also confiscated significant assets to cover the damages to the social insurance funds. Prosecutors stated that arrest warrants amounting to over 800,000 euros are pending against the accused.
Customs authorities in Osnabrück have been looking into this case since mid-2022. Over the course of their investigation, they found twelve groups connected to this network. The case is also being investigated in relation to organized crime. However, the term "organized crime" has sparked debate due to concerns that it aims to stigmatize and discriminate against individuals based solely on their family ties and origin.
Interestingly, the connection between "flying roofers" and fraud investigations is common. Fraud is often discovered to have occurred during the work or when unneeded craft services were provided. Yet, this was not part of the searches conducted on Monday.
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- The public prosecutor's office in Lower Saxony, specifically in Osnabrück, has been involved in the investigation of the "flying roofers" case since mid-2022.
- Despite the vast number of searches conducted in Berlin, Hamburg, Osnabrück, and Leer, there seems to be an empty spot in the investigation related to undeclared work within the companies.
- The construction industry in Lower Saxony, particularly in Osnabrück, has been under scrutiny due to allegations of illegal networks engaged in undeclared work.
- The public prosecutor's office revealed that they are targeting individuals operating without registering their employees, leading to significant financial losses for the social insurance funds.
- As the search for undeclared work continues in Lower Saxony and the other two states, the empty premises and seized items serve as a stark reminder of the crime and its impact on the construction industry.
Source: www.stern.de
