Major operation in Berlin: Four illegal casinos raided, LKA officer seriously injured
During a raid in Berlin-Lichtenberg, an LKA officer fell several metres through an intermediate floor. 400 police officers raided four illegal casinos and are investigating 18 suspects on suspicion of human trafficking.
LKA officer falls through intermediate floor – human trafficking raid in Berlin-Lichtenberg
An LKA officer fell several metres through an intermediate floor during a raid in Berlin-Lichtenberg overnight into Friday and was seriously injured. According to BILD, approximately 400 police officers were deployed simultaneously across eight Berlin districts.
The accident occurred in a rambling commercial complex with warehouse and storage buildings on Marzahner Straße. Several suspects had apparently hidden on an intermediate floor to evade the officers. The structural component gave way under the weight – the investigator fell to the floor below. "One of our colleagues fell several metres through an intermediate floor of a building and crashed to the ground," a police spokeswoman confirmed to BILD. By Friday morning, he was still receiving treatment in hospital.
Even as the injured officer was being attended to, the officers continued their search. In total, they raided four illegal gambling casinos containing several gaming machines. Proceeds from the illegal gambling were confiscated. Additionally, the officers seized drugs, weapons, at least one machete and counterfeit money. The complex also contained exposed foodstuffs and unrefrigerated animal carcasses from a sushi restaurant – these will be destroyed according to police.
Twelve individuals were detained in Lichtenberg, all Vietnamese nationals. Investigation is ongoing against 18 suspects in total – eleven men and seven women. They are accused of forcing Vietnamese women into prostitution. The complex on Marzahner Straße had already attracted attention the previous year when illegal gambling casinos, a drug laboratory and a brothel were discovered there.
Parallel to the operation in Lichtenberg, the approximately 400 police officers struck in other districts, including Mitte, Reinickendorf, Pankow and Charlottenburg. During these operations, investigators found weapons, more than 20 travel documents, further evidence and 43,000 euros in cash. "The investigations are still ongoing," the police spokeswoman told BILD.
Source: BILD