German Customs Raids Parcel Industry as Berlin Prosecutors Uncover Indian Chefs' Forced Labour

The eight accused, aged between 36 and 66, are alleged to have employed Indian speciality chefs under degrading conditions since at least 2021. Victims worked up to 13 hours a day for wages that fell 75 percent below the statutory minimum wage — or were not paid at all. Their identity documents were confiscated. During the raid, officers found four workers in overcrowded, unsanitary accommodation. The building authority ordered the immediate closure of one property due to severe fire-safety violations.

The Berlin operation, executed by the Joint Investigation Group on Labour Exploitation (GEA), was executing three search warrants in the districts of Mitte, Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg. The charges include human trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation.

That case forms the starkest example of a nationwide crackdown that began the same day. More than 2,900 customs officers fanned out across Germany to conduct suspicion-free inspections at parcel centres and logistics hubs. The operation targets the courier, express and parcel (KEP) sector, with particular attention to the often opaque subcontractor chains that have become a hallmark of the industry.

The fire-safety violations that led to a property closure in this case are a stark reminder of what can go wrong when workplace safety basics are ignored. UK businesses face similar risks – and potentially heavy fines – if their health and safety documentation isn't up to standard. A free Health & Safety Toolkit provides ready-to-use risk assessments, checklists, and templates that help you comply with UK regulations from day one. Download the free Health & Safety Toolkit

Regional coordination intensifies

Alongside the federal raids, local authorities are tightening their own efforts. In Dresden, representatives from the Chamber of Crafts, customs and district administrative offices met on Thursday for a round-table discussion. Participants warned that the economic downturn is fuelling undeclared work. Beyond construction and building trades, experts identified hairdressing salons and barbershops as priority targets for future inspections. Closer cooperation is expected to make joint priority operations more efficient.

International pressure and staggering losses

The debate over fair working conditions has also reached the global stage. On Tuesday, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer threatened 60 countries — including EU member states — with new tariffs of 10 to 12 percent. Washington cited alleged failures to curb imports produced under forced labour. European politicians rejected the accusations, pointing to the bloc's supply-chain due diligence laws.

The financial scale of the problem is immense. Tax evasion is estimated to cost Germany roughly 100 billion euros annually, with another 100 billion euros lost to money laundering. Experts are calling for a stronger centralisation of investigative authorities to pursue economic crimes and social-security fraud more effectively.

Customs have notched other successes this year. In February, officers in Wilhelmshaven seized more than eight tonnes of cocaine with a street value of around 500 million euros. In May, two suspected masterminds were arrested in Spain. The growing workload underscores the rising importance of customs for Germany's fiscal and economic security.

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