According to the Munich Public Prosecutor’s Office, three suspects — two women and a man — were arrested on Thursday in connection with an alleged visa-for-cash network within the city’s immigration department (Kreisverwaltungsreferat, KVR).
Authorities suspect the group arranged residence permits for foreign nationals in exchange for bribes. During a series of coordinated searches across Munich and the greater Augsburg area, investigators discovered €100,000 in cash in one of the apartments.
Organized forgery and bribery allegations
The suspects are accused of commercial and organized facilitation of illegal immigration, as well as document forgery and bribery. One of the female suspects — believed to be a civil servant — allegedly issued residence confirmations and permits in exchange for payments.
The other two suspects reportedly acted as intermediaries, connecting mainly Vietnamese applicants with the insider, accepting payments, and arranging meetings.
Per case, the group is said to have charged between €500 and €2,500, according to initial findings.
Two of the suspects are now in pre-trial detention. Around 30 investigators took part in the raids, which were coordinated by the Munich anti-corruption unit.
Internal audit triggered the investigation
Ironically, the investigation began within the KVR itself. Early this year, internal audits uncovered irregularities in residence permit procedures. The department reported its findings to the anti-corruption authority, triggering a wider criminal probe.
“The latest arrests show that our internal control mechanisms are working and that our measures are effective,” said Hanna Sammüller, head of the KVR, in a public statement.
Not the first case
This is not the first time Munich’s immigration office has faced corruption allegations. In August, two former KVR employees were charged over similar schemes, accused of providing residence permits to foreigners in exchange for bribes.
The recurrence of such cases has raised questions about oversight and transparency within one of Munich’s busiest public offices — an agency responsible for thousands of residence and work permits each year.
Authorities say the investigation is ongoing and further arrests cannot be ruled out.
