The Strohmann Kartell: In the sights of the investigators - revelations about organized crime in Germany

"ARD Story: The Strohmann Kartell-service provider for the Mafia" / from July 29th in the ARD Mediathek and on July 30th at 10:50 p.m. in the first

An extraordinary look at organized crimes in Germany

The ARD reveals a disturbing phenomenon in its new report "The Strohmann Kartell-service provider for the Mafia": the systematic use of addictive and homeless people from Eastern Europe as a so-called stroke. These are used as managing director and owner of German companies without their consent and knowledge to disguise illegal activities and minimize risks.

The market for professional “service companies” that straw men from Eastern Europe get has become established. Adrian Bartocha and Jan Wiese's research shows how the system of straw man recruitment works, who benefits from it and for which criminal purposes the strans are abused.

The film "The Strohmann Kartell-service provider for the mafia" presents exclusive insights and interviews with hedgehogs who are caught in this dangerous network or could escape it. The research leads the journalists across Germany and in small Eastern European cities. Investigators from the customs criminal office and the tax investigation in Baden-Württemberg as well as prosecutors from the European prosecutor also have their say.

The effects of these criminal structures on society are devastating. Money laundering, bankruptcy and a billion dollar tax fraud are just a few of the crimes committed by the organized crime in Germany. The research shows how these crimes are made possible and veiled with the help of the strans. The prosecutor Annegret Ritter-Victor warns of the social consequences of such economic crime.

The ARD documentary "The Strohmann Kartell-service provider for the Mafia" will be available in the ARD Mediathek from July 29 and will be broadcast on the first on July 30th at 10:50 p.m. This extraordinary look at the organized crime is a must-see for everyone who is interested in the background and effects of criminal machinations.