Deutsche Bank offices raided by police as part of Panama Papers probe

Deutsche Bank CEO Christian SewingReuters/Kai Pfaffenbach

• Deutsche Bank’s Frankfurt offices were searched as part of a Panama Papers-linked probe.
• The bank is being investigated as part of a money laundering suspicions raised by the 2016 data leak. 
• The German lender is under increasing pressure, and it’s shares are plunging. 

Six Deutsche Bank branches were searched Thursday in an alleged money laundering probe linked to the 2016 Panama Papers data leak. The company’s shares dropped. 

In total, 170 prosecutors, policemen and tax inspectors took part in the raid, according to a statement from the Frankfurt prosecutor’s office. Two bank employees, aged 50 and 46, were targeted as suspects in the case, according to the statement. Deutsche Bank shares fell as much as 3% on the news and are down 2.6% as of 11.20 a.m in Frankfurt (5.20 a.m EST). 

According to prosecutors, Deutsche Bank is suspected of aiding some 900 customers in setting up offshore companies in tax havens. It’s alleged some €311 million ($354 million) is believed to have been laundered, citing information from the so-called “Panama Papers.”

“We confirm that the police are currently conducting an investigation at a number of our offices in Germany,” the bank said in a statement. “The investigation relates to the Panama Papers. We will be issuing further details in due course. We are cooperating fully with the authorities.” 

It’s been a tough few weeks for Deutsche after reports that its head of the Americas, Tom Patrick, would leave the bank by year end alongside a raft of other senior management changes. The bank’s stock fell last week after Citigroup’s CEO Michael Corbat dismissed merger talk between the  two lenders. 

Deutsche was also embroiled in the Danske Bank scandal, adding to a growing list of concerns for the Frankfurt-based lender.