Cross-Border Zoll Operation: Two Arrested in Nursing Sector Probe for Exploiting Caregivers

A cross-border operation involving German and French authorities has led to the arrest of two individuals suspected of exploiting caregivers in the nursing sector.

The Zoll (customs) in Saarland, Germany, in cooperation with French authorities, conducted searches in both countries, resulting in the detention of a 46-year-old woman and a 59-year-old man. Both are accused of facilitating the employment of primarily Eastern European caregivers for home care services. Investigations by the Saarbrücken public prosecutor's office suggest that the actual working hours of these caregivers significantly exceeded the officially recorded times.

European arrest warrants were issued for the suspects. The operation, which focused on suspicions of withholding and misappropriating wages, involved extensive evidence collection. Authorities seized substantial evidence during the searches, which are now undergoing evaluation.

A total of 52 officers from the Gendarmerie Nationale, the Saarbrücken public prosecutor's office, and the financial control department for undeclared work participated in the coordinated action. The investigation aims to uncover the full extent of the alleged wage theft and exploitation within the cross-border care industry.