German prosecutors charge five in Chinese human smuggling ring for prostitution operations

Frankfurt prosecutors announced charges against five individuals for operating a human smuggling network that brought Chinese women to Germany for prostitution over three years. The 43-year-old Chinese man and 35-year-old Chinese woman who allegedly led the operation face additional tax evasion charges for failing to pay nearly €3 million in taxes and €3.5 million in social insurance contributions. Their network used telephone operators in China to handle bookings while arranging more than 500 hotel rooms, rented flats, and other locations across Germany for illicit liaisons. Although prostitution is legal in Germany under strict regulation, the women were brought without valid residency permits. The suspects are accused of organized smuggling of foreigners for their roles in operating the syndicate.