Police Officer Seriously Injured in Major Berlin Raid
Berlin, September 4 – A large-scale police operation in Berlin on Thursday evening resulted in a serious injury to a State Criminal Police Office (LKA) officer, who fell several meters through a false ceiling. The raid, which extended late into the night, uncovered four illegal casinos, a significant quantity of drugs, weapons, counterfeit money, and even animal carcasses. The operation also targeted a suspected human trafficking ring.
The incident occurred in a sprawling commercial complex featuring halls and warehouses on Marzahner Straße in Berlin-Lichtenberg. This location had previously been the site of illegal casinos, a drug laboratory, and a brothel just last year.
Officer Hospitalized After Fall
During the renewed police assault on the hall, an investigator sustained severe injuries. A police spokesperson confirmed to BILD, “One of our colleagues fell several meters through a false ceiling of a building and hit the ground.” The officer remains hospitalized for treatment, the spokesperson added on Friday morning.
It appears that several suspects, attempting to evade police, had hidden on a false ceiling. The structure partially collapsed under their combined weight. While the injured officer received immediate attention, other units proceeded to dismantle another illegal gambling establishment, seizing multiple slot machines, drugs, and weapons, including at least one machete. Further details regarding the seized items have not yet been released by the police, who stated, “Investigations are still ongoing.”
Twelve Arrests, Human Trafficking Suspected
Twelve individuals, all identified as Vietnamese, were apprehended during the operation. Authorities are investigating a total of 18 suspects. The illicit activities extended beyond gambling and drugs, as various foodstuffs and unrefrigerated animal carcasses from a sushi restaurant were found on the premises and are now slated for destruction.
The extensive operation in Lichtenberg was primarily aimed at dismantling an alleged human trafficking ring. The 18 suspects (11 men and 7 women) are believed to have forced Vietnamese women into prostitution. Concurrently, approximately 400 police officers conducted raids across eight Berlin districts, including Mitte, Reinickendorf, Pankow, and Charlottenburg. Investigators confiscated weapons, over 20 passports, additional evidence, and 43,000 euros in cash.
