Major raid disrupts sex party at sauna club

The sex party at the Penelope sauna club in Castrop-Rauxel came to an abrupt end last night as over 100 law enforcement officers from the police, customs, and regulatory authorities raided the brothel. The operation, personally attended by NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul (71, CDU), targeted potential illegal activities, tax violations, and the exploitation of women.

The raid was conducted to check if illegal prostitutes were employed or if women were being exploited. Additionally, there was suspicion of illegal gambling machines being operated at Penelope and that gambling tax was not being properly paid. Furthermore, there were suspicions of ties to the HELLS ANGELS motorcycle club, which the authorities are still investigating closely.

Customers left the sauna club

During the operation, frustrated customers left the sauna club, with some expressing their discontent to the officers. Prostitutes also ended their work early and hastily left the club, while the police continued to inspect the premises.

Simultaneously, further raids were conducted in Castrop-Rauxel and Marl at shisha bars and clubs. The focus was on untaxed shisha tobacco, violations of legal regulations, and suspicion of tax evasion. Customs officials were also involved in the actions.

Inspections at Penelope took longer than expected due to the high number of people and vehicles. An investigator reported, that the club was completely overcrowded. Most people were lightly dressed or wearing only a towel around their hips.

Interior Minister Reul expressed tentative satisfaction with the operation and emphasized the importance of such measures to gain insights into activities in the milieu and ensure compliance with the law.

The police provided an initial assessment of the action: Over 270 people and 75 vehicles were inspected. Five illegal gambling machines, drugs, and cash were seized. A variety of charges were filed, including for illegal gambling, traffic violations, and tax evasion. One arrest warrant was executed, and the building was closed.

Hanover’s famed Sansibar bar, owned by rocker boss Frank Hanebuth, was set ablaze in what appears to be a deliberate arson attack. Hanebuth, a notable figure in Europe’s rock scene and former leader of the Hanover Hells Angels, witnessed the firefighting efforts firsthand. Passersby alerted emergency services after spotting a man throwing a combustible device onto the roof, prompting a swift response to prevent the fire from spreading. A 33-year-old suspect was apprehended nearby, and firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze within 30 minutes, with no further casualties reported: Hells Angels boss: his pub was set on fire

The Interior Minister in Bremen said a sex club might have belonged to the Hells Angels gang. If true, it could have been shut down because the gang is banned in Germany. This made officials look into who owned the club. Before, Hells Angels were involved in a big brothel in Germany called FKK Club Paradise. They were supposed to be security, but they did illegal thingsand the owner got in trouble for it: Minister of Interior in Bremen speaks up against Hells Angels gang