Mac + external SSD: Kontakt can't locate missing samples

I'm composer and I recently switched from PC to Mac Studio M2. Of course I had to install all my sample libraries anew. I'm using an external SSD for sample content.

Most of the libraries work fine, but for some (that seem to have nothing in common) Kontakt can't locate the sample files.

Upon loading I get the redirection dialogue in which I can browse manually for folders or files.

If I direct Kontakt to the respective folder, it can't locate the files. It seems to search, but not find. The process has to be cancelled manually because it would go on forever and the number of missing files doesn't go down.

Here's something interesting: If I click on "browse for file" and point Kontakt to one of the missing files, it seems to be recognizing it and the number of missing files goes down by 1. (Needless to say for thousands of missing files this isn't the way. :))

I've

tried using different Kontakt versions,

enabled full disk access for Kontakt,

stuck to the correct folder structure,

tried using Batch re-save (doesn't work for the same reason as above)

tried spotlight search, database search, filesystem search - to no avail.

Since I consider myself quite well versed with that kind of things in the PC world and never had such an issue there I'd suspect the reason for my problems lies in the Mac world.

I appreciate any kind of help - thanks!

Alexander