German authorities confiscated about 33,000 audio recordings and roughly 130 digital storage devices in a multi‑state investigation that extended to manufacturers in several European countries. More than 20,000 recordings were recovered from the homes of four main suspects alleged to have produced and marketed extremist CDs and vinyl since 2020. Officials also seized assets estimated at €2 million and said the material promoted a "National Socialist, anti‑Semitic, racist and dehumanizing ideology." No arrests were reported after the raids.
German Police Seize 33,000 Neo‑Nazi Recordings and €2M in Cross‑Border Raids
Police officers secure evidence during a raid on a single-family home. Several buildings in Anklam and the Rostock district are being searched as part of an investigation into four suspected right-wing extremists. (is associated with: «German police seize 33,000 recordings in neo-Nazi music raids») Jens Büttner/dpa
German police said on Friday they confiscated roughly 33,000 audio recordings — including CDs, vinyl records and cassettes — during a large-scale operation targeting neo‑Nazi music across several federal states, with searches also conducted abroad.
Key Seizures
Prosecutors and police in the north‑eastern state of Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern reported that more than 20,000 of the recordings were found during Wednesday's searches of the homes of the four principal suspects. Investigators also seized about 130 storage devices, including hard drives, mobile phones and USB sticks, and froze assets estimated at around €2 million. Approximately €11,000 in cash was discovered on the four main suspects.
Allegations and Suspects
Authorities said the probe focused on music they describe as promoting a "National Socialist, anti‑Semitic, racist and dehumanizing ideology." The four main suspects, aged 55, 52, 48 and 43, are alleged to have joined forces no later than 2020 to produce and market CDs and vinyl records of this nature and are accused of being members of a far‑right criminal organisation. Separate searches across Germany targeted eight additional suspects in connection with hate‑speech offences related to the recordings.
International Dimension
Searches were also carried out at manufacturers in Estonia, Italy, Poland and the Czech Republic, where the seized recordings are believed to have been produced. Authorities said the companies inspected appeared unaware of the extremist content being manufactured.
"The operation targeted music that spreads a National Socialist, anti‑Semitic, racist and dehumanizing ideology," the joint statement said.
Prosecutors and police said the searches were conducted to clarify existing grounds for suspicion. No arrests were made following the operation.
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