Dozens of Chinese women were brought to Germany without valid residence permits by a network to work as prostitutes, prosecutors in Frankfurt (western Germany) said Friday.

Five suspects are accused of organized trafficking of foreign nationals for their role in managing this network over the past three years, according to the public prosecutor's office. Prostitution is legal in Germany but strictly regulated.

Two Chinese nationals, a 43-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman, are suspected of heading this network, which used telephone operators in China to manage "bookings" for these sexual services, prosecutors explained in a statement. They are also being prosecuted for tax fraud, having failed to pay nearly €3 million in taxes and €3.5 million in social security contributions on the income they derived from these activities.

A highly organized network

The 43-year-old man was apparently responsible for soliciting clients, while the 35-year-old woman collected the daily earnings and managed over 500 hotel rooms, rented apartments, and other locations in Germany where the encounters took place. A 42-year-old Chinese woman is accused of making her massage parlor available to them. Another woman, aged 46, who was allegedly the manager of this establishment, is also among the suspects.

A 22-year-old German man is suspected of having worked as a driver for this network, collecting payments and transporting the women.

In May 2025, German police conducted raids at 40 locations as part of this investigation. The public prosecutor's office has asked a court in Darmstadt – 30 km south of Frankfurt – to take over the case.