Alteration of Hypothetical Driving Examinations

On Tuesday morning (29th July), the Public Prosecutor's Office Cologne and Police Cologne executed search warrants in Cologne and the Rhein-Sieg district. The investigation centres around three men, aged 32 to 37, who are alleged to have manipulated theoretical driving license exams in Cologne and Leverkusen since January 2025.

During the search operation, officers of the investigative group at the Traffic Commission 4 secured extensive evidence from three private residences in Cologne and Troisdorf. One of the searched residences was in Cologne-Ossendorf, where a 37-year-old resident was also injured during the search operation. The resident sustained minor injuries, which were treated on-site. Light damage was caused when the apartment door was opened.

The driving license candidates are said to have paid the three suspected providers amounts in the four-digit range beforehand. The manipulation was done jointly and for payment. The suspects are also accused of sending "false examinees" to various TÜV testing centers on behalf of the driving license candidates. They are alleged to have equipped exam participants with "deception techniques" such as mini-cameras and headphones.

No further details about the suspects' identities or the exact nature of the manipulation have been released. Similarly, no details about specific evidence found during the house searches have been made public. The resident of Cologne-Ossendorf was injured during the search operation, and special units were involved in the search of the residence due to the indication that the resident possessed a firearm.

The investigation is ongoing, and no further information is available at this time. The authorities urge anyone with relevant information to come forward and contact the relevant authorities. The public is reminded that manipulating driving license exams is a serious offence and can have dangerous consequences.