The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) has reported a growing surge in criminal activity and violent offenses perpetrated by young gangs of Turkish descent across Germany. Citing a BKA spokesperson, the Funke Media Group learned that since the middle of last year, there has been a noticeable rise in a new form of organized crime linked to Turkish groups.
Investigators across the country are documenting an increase in violent incidents involving the use of firearms. These activities frequently involve extortion or threats targeting medium-sized Turkish businesses, particularly in cities with significant Turkish populations.
According to the BKA, members of these emerging criminal groups originally come from Turkey. Turkish media outlets have begun referring to them as the “Mafia of the New Generation” or “GenZ-Mafia” due to their age structure. The BKA spokesperson clarified that, unlike traditional mafia organizations-which are often highly hierarchical, operate discreetly, and avoid public attention-the so-called GenZ-Mafia tends to function as loose networks that communicate extensively through social media.
The organized criminals are also sourcing firearms from Turkey. The spokesperson stressed that the illegal trade, proliferation, and availability of such weapons have significantly increased the danger to public safety. Specifically, theatrical guns produced in Turkey have been repeatedly seized in Germany after being illegally adapted into fully functioning, lethal firearms. Furthermore, the BKA noted the increasing importance of illegal counterfeit firearms, which are deceptively accurate reproductions of known original models, but which are manufactured outside of any legal production or distribution structures.
Following the sharp increase in firearm-related crime, law enforcement and the judiciary increased their focus on organized crime, particularly in Berlin. Police established the specialized unit “Ferrum,” while the public prosecutor’s office formed the investigative group “Telum.” According to the investigators, raids and searches have focused on gangs whose leaders operate from Turkey, threatening Turkish and Kurdish store owners in Berlin and other cities to extort large sums of money.
