Arrest on Suspicion of Engaging in Intelligence Activities

Year of issue 2024
Date 01.10.2024

Yesterday (30 September 2024), the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office had agents of the investigating Federal Criminal Police Office arrest

Chinese national Yaqi X.

in execution of an arrest warrant issued by the Investigating Judge at the Federal Court of Justice on 27 September 2024. In addition, the suspect’s apartment and place of work were searched.

Yaqi X. is strongly suspected of engaging in intelligence activities for a Chinese intelligence service (section 99 para. 1 no. 1 of the German Criminal Code).

In essence, the arrest warrant sets out the following allegations:

Yaqi X. works for a company which provides logistical services, inter alia, at Leipzig/Halle Airport. Between mid-August 2023 and mid-February 2024, she repeatedly sent airport-related flight, cargo, and passenger information to an officer of a Chinese intelligence service, namely to Jian G. who has been investigated separately (see Press Release No. 22 of 23 April 2024). Particular importance was attached to information on the transport of military hardware and persons linked to a German arms manufacturer.

The suspect was brought before the Investigating Judge at the Federal Court of Justice yesterday (30 September 2024), who read out the arrest warrant and ordered that the suspect be placed in pre-trial detention.