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The tax investigation in Hamburg has uncovered a suspected fraud of millions (symbol picture)
Photo: Sebastian Willnow / dpa
The tax investigation in Hamburg has uncovered a suspected fraud of millions in the trade with FFP2 and surgical masks.
On April 13, a 30-year-old man was arrested by special forces from the State Criminal Police Office, the Hamburg tax authorities said.
Two million euros, Rolex watches and high-quality vehicles were confiscated during searches.
The 30-year-old is on remand.
The man is said to have sold 23 million masks to the Federal Ministry of Health last May with three accomplices.
The sales were made through a jointly managed company that was actually active in the car trade.
More than four euros per mask
The men asked a total of 109 million euros for the masks, more than four euros per mask.
The men would have had to pay four million euros from the income to the tax office, it said.
Instead of paying the taxes, however, they apparently invested the money in luxury cars from Rolls-Royce, Lamborghini and Bentley, among others.
"This particularly bold case shows that the corona pandemic is unfortunately also being exploited by criminals," said Hamburg's Finance Senator Andreas Dressel.
He spoke of "deeds and perpetrators harmful to the community".
According to the tax authorities, the investigations have not yet been completed.
The arrested man faces a prison sentence of between six months and ten years.
ptz
