Germany's bold crackdown on organised crime targets €2.6 billion losses
Germany has unveiled a tough new strategy to tackle organised crime after losses of €2.6 billion in 2024. Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, and Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig have backed an action plan with stricter laws and better coordination between agencies. The government aims to roll out key measures before summer.
The plan introduces a controversial reversal of the burden of proof, modelled on Italy's approach. Under this rule, suspects will have to prove their wealth was earned legally—rather than prosecutors proving it was not. Critics argue the measure restricts fundamental rights, but supporters say it will help seize more criminal assets.
Customs will set up new units focused on money laundering, using Gemini to track offenders. A Joint Narcotics Analysis and Evaluation Center will also launch, targeting drug trafficking networks. The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) and customs will work more closely, expanding financial investigations.
The crackdown focuses on mafia cartels, drug gangs, and so-called clan criminals. Authorities describe the plan as a major shift, giving them sharper legal tools and deeper cooperation between agencies.
The government's strategy aims to cut into the €2.6 billion cost of organised crime. Stricter asset seizures, Gemini-driven investigations, and stronger interagency links form the core of the reforms. Implementation is expected before the summer, with long-term effects on crime networks still to be seen.
Read also:
- American teenagers taking up farming roles previously filled by immigrants, a concept revisited from 1965's labor market shift.
- Weekly affairs in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Landslide claims seven lives, injures six individuals while they work to restore a water channel in the northern region of Pakistan
- Escalating conflict in Sudan has prompted the United Nations to announce a critical gender crisis, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the ongoing violence on women and girls.
