Police in Berlin and the western state of Saxony-Anhalt have launched a major raid targeting a gang of suspected smugglers.
According to a Federal Police spokesman, more than 20 flats and offices, mostly in Berlin, were searched on Wednesday morning.
Five men were detained, four in Berlin and one in the Saxony-Anhalt city of Halle.
A total of 18 suspects were under investigation.
The gang was alleged to have smuggled people from Turkey and Iraq into Germany.
A total of 400 police officers from the Federal Police and the Berlin police force were deployed, including special units such as the GSG 9. (dpa/NAN)
