A hookah bowl stands in a café Photo: Til Biermann
From the BZ editorial team
Nine search warrants were carried out on Tuesday morning in Berlin and in Langenhagen (Lower Saxony) on suspicion of gang tax evasion and tax fraud.
Five suspects are said to have produced and sold untaxed hookah tobacco. In a procedure conducted in 2021, the accused are said to have already purchased over a tonne of illegal water pipe tobacco.
During the current use, the following were ensured:
► 642.2 kilos of water pipe tobacco
► 35 kilos of raw tobacco
► 28 canisters of glycerin
► Various packaging materials and utensils for making water pipe tobacco
► 61,325 euros in cash
► Gold and silver coins
► eleven clocks
► Various mobile phones, laptops, documents and storage media
► a knife and a telescopic baton.
The Joint Investigation Group for Cigarettes (GEZig) of the Berlin-Brandenburg Customs Investigation Office and the LKA Berlin was supported by the Hanover Customs Investigation Office, the Berlin Main Customs Office and the Uelzen Federal Police. More than 130 officers were on duty.
The investigations and evaluations of confiscated materials are ongoing. There were no arrests.