Organized Crime (OC) in Germany appears to be escalating. According to the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) report on the situation in 2025, presented by Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) on Tuesday, there were 683 OC investigation cases nationwide last year. This involved documenting almost 8,000 suspects, which marks the highest number recorded in the past five years.
Nearly 69 percent of these OC cases involved a transnational component. Drug crime remains the primary focus of organized crime, accounting for approximately 37 percent of cases. However, the character of organized crime is shifting. While secrecy was traditionally a hallmark of OC, younger criminals-dubbed the “Gen-Z mafia”-are becoming more visible, increasingly projecting power, status, and violence through social media channels.
Furthermore, criminal services are increasingly being offered and brokered in a “Crime-as-a-Service” model. The scope of these services is broad, ranging from logistics and weapons supply to money laundering and the recruitment of perpetrators, often young individuals, for acts of violence. These services-the offering, the contract, and the brokering-are facilitated through digital platforms, social media, or encrypted messaging services. Clients can operate from seemingly safe foreign jurisdictions, recruiting perpetrators in Germany without ever meeting them in person.
The use of violence, both during crimes and to maintain internal and external control within OC groups, is also increasing, and this violence is increasingly spilling into public spaces. Characteristics of this trend include protection rackets and a lowered threshold for firearm use. In recent years, an increase in illegal firearms, particularly “totally counterfeit weapons” entering Europe from Turkey into Germany, has been observed. These counterfeit weapons are manufactured illegally outside legal production facilities and closely mimic genuine weapon models. This growing availability of such armaments heightens the danger posed by these groups, especially given that violence is frequently public.
The BKA confirms that drug crime still dominates OC activity, representing around 37 percent of cases. This is particularly visible with cocaine and crack. In 2025, 39,414 offenses involving these drugs were recorded (compared to 38,671 in 2024), indicating a sustained high level of criminal activity. A total of 10.1 tons of cocaine were seized, with 6.5 tons intercepted in German ports. Large amounts of cocaine also continue to enter Europe via legal shipping routes through seaports. In addition to maritime smuggling, criminal networks are increasingly utilizing fast “Go-Fast boats.” The vast profits generated by the cocaine trade are also being used for bribery and undue influence, with laundered money subsequently entering the legitimate economic cycle.
In the cannabis sector, the seizure of marijuana tripled in 2025 compared to the previous year. Illegal cannabis cultivation continues in Germany. In 2025 alone, 567 cannabis plantations with cultivation capacities of at least 20 plants were seized, representing a rise of about 55 percent over the previous year.
Dobrindt emphasized that “Organized crime is a growing threat to our internal security.” He stated that criminal gangs are becoming “more professional, more brutal, and more unscrupulous.” The government’s objective is clear: through a joint action plan tackling organized crime, financial crime, and drug offenses, authorities plan to better combat criminal structures, confiscate illegal assets, and ensure harsher punishments for perpetrators. Simultaneously, the plan aims to “consequentially push back” drug gangs and remove the foundation for illegal drug trafficking.
