The German federal government announced a comprehensive restructuring of its strategy to combat organized crime, financial crime and drug crime. On Wednesday the cabinet approved a joint action plan that was presented at noon in Berlin by the ministers of the Interior, Finance and Justice.
The aim is to tackle crime in a unified and decisive manner, concentrating on financial crime-including money laundering-and drug crime. To strengthen law‑enforcement agencies, new statutory foundations will be established, including improved cooperation between customs authorities and the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) and the deployment of technological tools for threat mitigation and prosecution. At the EU level, the government seeks adequate access to information from relevant databases.
A key element is the “Follow the Money” approach to uncover criminal activities and illicit financial flows. Regulations on anti‑money‑laundering and asset seizure will be refined to strip criminal networks of their financial base.
The plan also calls for enhanced detection and international cooperation against drug crime, in particular by setting up a joint analysis and evaluation centre named “Drug” between the customs criminal police and the BKA. In addition, the growing production of synthetic drugs in German laboratories will be addressed through stricter monitoring of the base substances required for their manufacture.
Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) said, “We are taking the fight to organized crime. The perpetrators defraud the public, endanger lives and cause billions in damage each year. Our action plan is a clear message: the rule of law is tightening its grip”. He added that investigators will strike criminals where it hurts most-at the money. “Fraudulent proceeds can now be confiscated much more quickly”.
