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Dresden / Rügen (dpa) - Dozens of puppies are said to have been illegally brought to Germany from Eastern Europe and sold.
The Dresden public prosecutor announced on Friday that at least 47 cases were being investigated against two men (34 and 48 years old) and a 41-year-old woman on suspicion of commercial fraud.
In the past few weeks, at the request of the Dresden public prosecutor, a holiday home in Laußnitz, Saxony, and an apartment in Altefähr on the island of Rügen were searched.
Two high-quality vehicles with which the puppies were supposed to be transported, two cell phones, business documents and around 10,000 euros in cash were seized.
In addition, two unsold puppies were tracked down and brought to the Dresden animal shelter.
The accused are said to have illegally brought the puppies from Romania and other Eastern European countries to Germany since 2019.
The animals are said to have been removed from the mother too early and introduced into the federal territory unvaccinated.
Subsequently, the puppies with false information in animal passports are said to have been sold mainly in Dresden, but also in Hamburg and on the island of Rügen for up to 2500 euros each.
In at least three cases, the puppies are said to have died shortly after the sale due to concealed or unrecognized previous illnesses.
The Dresden Public Prosecutor's Office assumes that the total damage done will amount to at least 100,000 euros.
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No arrest warrant had been applied for against the accused, as there are currently no grounds for detention.
In the course of further investigations, it should also be checked whether the two Romanians and the German are responsible for further, previously unknown illegal sales of puppies.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210219-99-508248 / 2
Notice from the public prosecutor