Germany is facing a serious challenge as organized crime groups bring more and more Chinese women into the country for illegal prostitution.
According to the latest report from the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), these women often arrive through legal routes, but once inside Germany, they are forced into highly controlled and exploitative situations.
How the Women Are Brought In
Many of the women travel using fake EU documents or by passing through countries where no visa is needed, like Serbia. Smugglers organize their travel, accommodation, and work schedules through encrypted chat groups.
Most of the people in charge are also Chinese, and they handle advertising, prices, and apartment rentals.
The women usually end up in so-called “appointment apartments.” These are private flats rented out day by day for prostitution.
On the surface, it looks like voluntary work, but in reality, the operators control nearly everything – from client booking to price setting. They can take up to 50 percent of the women’s earnings, leaving them with very little independence.
Because many of the women have no valid work permits, they are at constant risk of arrest. Authorities say this system is essentially a way to support illegal stays in Germany while exploiting the victims.
The BKA report shows that in 2024 there were 7,954 smuggling cases, a slight rise compared to 2023. But the number of suspects grew much faster – by more than six percent – reaching 7,607 people.
While general illegal migration into Germany dropped due to stricter border checks in Serbia, smuggling related to prostitution is on the rise and has become a major concern.
Why This Is a Major Problem for Germany
The spread of Chinese prostitution networks is creating big challenges for German police and courts. The women are not only victims of exploitation but also caught in a legal gray zone where they have no rights.
Meanwhile, the criminals behind these operations make huge profits while staying in the shadows.
Law enforcement says this is not simply a matter of “voluntary sex work.”
Instead, it is a system where women are stripped of their independence and controlled by traffickers who see them only as a source of money.
Related Reports We Published Earlier
We have reported several times on similar cases involving Chinese prostitution networks. On August 12, 2025, German police launched a major raid against a suspected human trafficking ring. Officers searched 22 properties across four states and arrested two suspects accused of smuggling Chinese women into the country for illegal sex work. The women were frequently moved between short-term apartments to avoid detection, and police seized mobile phones, laptops, and large amounts of cash during the operation.
On May 14, 2024, a trial opened in Aargau, Switzerland, where three people were accused of exploiting Chinese sex workers. The defendants included a Chinese brothel owner and her Swiss partners. They allegedly provided the women with fake IDs, charged them deposits and rent, and took a share of their earnings. Prosecutors said the group made about 340,000 Swiss francs in profit over five years.
On April 24, 2024, a trial began in Hanau, Germany, against three defendants accused of trafficking thirteen Chinese women and running brothels in three different states. The group allegedly evaded €1.2 million in taxes and failed to pay €1.3 million in social security contributions, earning huge profits from the exploitation of their victims.
On June 28, 2023, German authorities carried out a coordinated operation in Hessen and Baden-Württemberg. Raids in several cities led to the arrest of two women, one German and one Chinese. They were accused of employing at least nine Chinese prostitutes without proper documentation and avoiding more than two million euros in tax and social payments.
These cases show that Chinese prostitution networks are not isolated incidents but part of a continuing pattern that spans Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
We have an article that is slightly connected to this news. The Nordic Model, also known as the Swedish Model of prostitution, punishes the customers of the sex industry while at the same time causing huge disadvantages for professional sex workers. Read our article here: Top 10 Reasons Why the Nordic Model Is Bad for Sex Workers