Offenbach police arrest two in major tax evasion and fraud raid

Authorities in Germany have conducted raids in the Offenbach district, resulting in the arrest of two individuals. The operation, involving the Frankfurt General Prosecutor's Office, Hessian tax investigators (AVALON), and the Southeast Hesse Police, targeted two residential properties. Seized items include high-value vehicles, luxury watches, jewelry, and a five-digit cash amount. The suspects, part of a family group including Romanian and Belgian nationals, face allegations of organized VAT evasion totaling approximately 324,000 euros, fraud regarding used vehicle sales, and social benefit fraud. They are accused of operating a business as a GbR from May 2023 to April 2026, allegedly using foreign companies to simulate tax-free EU intra-community deliveries.

In cultural news, the hr Symphony Orchestra has announced the 2027 Music Discovery Project titled ‘ZeitLos’. The event, featuring house music icon Mousse T., will take place on February 19 and 20, 2027, at the myticket Jahrhunderthalle in Frankfurt.

Additionally, singer Frank Zander performed the ceremonial keg tapping to open the 2026 Oktoberfest in Berlin-Mitte at the Hofbräuhaus. The event drew approximately 3,000 attendees. In Mainz, the program ‘Das Literarische Quartett’ will feature guests Iris Radisch, Simon Strauß, and Matthias Brandt to discuss recent literary releases.