German state buys USB said to hold evidence of €600m in tax avoidance

North Rhine-Westphalia pays a5m for information on tax avoidance and illegal deals, according to Der Spiegel

Tax authorities in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia have purchased a USB stick reported to hold evidence of tax avoidance and illegal deals worth more than a600m (427m).

Investigators are believed to have paid more than a5m for the data, the highest amount handed over for such information, according to Der Spiegel.