Berlin (dpa) – Several hundred police officers conducted raids in Berlin and the surrounding state of Brandenburg in the early hours of Thursday as part of efforts to combat organized crime.
Two suspects have been arrested, according to the Berlin public prosecutor.
Authorities are acting on over 20 search warrants linked to the suspected sale of arms and drugs, the prosecutor’s office announced on Twitter.
The operation, which included special security forces, followed skirmishes between individuals of Arab and Chechen origin in November last year, police in the German capital wrote on Twitter.
The raids were also linked to investigations by tax authorities, the police tweet said.
Organized crime has long been a problem in Berlin and other parts of Germany.
In recent months, one particular family of Arab heritage made headlines after several members were arrested in connection with a daring 2019 heist at Dresden’s Green Vault museum, which is home to one of Europe’s most opulent treasure collections.
That family is also the focus of Thursday’s raids.
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