BERLIN, Feb. 25 (GeokHub) — Germany is preparing a sweeping modernization of its federal security agencies, placing artificial intelligence at the center of efforts to combat organised crime, money laundering and financial offences, according to a joint announcement by the country’s finance, interior and justice ministries on Wednesday.
The reform aims to strengthen the operational capacity of Germany’s customs authority and the Bundeskriminalamt (BKA) — the nation’s federal criminal police office — by expanding legal powers, improving technical infrastructure and increasing staffing levels.
Officials say organised crime remains one of the most significant threats to Germany’s internal security. According to the BKA’s latest assessment, criminal networks caused an estimated 2.64 billion euros ($3.1 billion) in economic damage in 2024 alone.
Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said the government intends to strike criminal organisations “where it hurts most — their money,” emphasizing faster asset confiscation measures targeting illicit wealth, including cash reserves, luxury vehicles and high-value real estate.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt confirmed that the BKA would receive expanded authority and additional personnel to strengthen enforcement capabilities. The plan also includes the creation of joint data analysis centers and investigative task forces between customs authorities and federal criminal investigators.
Under the new framework, agencies will gain reciprocal access to each other’s databases and use AI-powered systems to detect suspicious financial flows, identify perpetrators and analyze large datasets more efficiently.
Germany’s federal policing structure assigns routine law enforcement responsibilities to the country’s 16 states, while federal authorities handle border protection, rail and aviation security. The BKA serves as the national investigative body for serious and transnational crimes, coordinating complex operations across state and international borders.
Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig said organised crime erodes public trust in the rule of law and must be decisively confronted, stressing the importance of swift identification, prosecution and punishment of offenders.
Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering Dominate Cases
According to BKA data, illegal drug trafficking accounted for 40% of organised crime proceedings in 2024 — 259 of 650 recorded cases. Money laundering featured in 146 cases, involving approximately 230 million euros in suspicious financial activity.
The modernization effort signals Berlin’s growing recognition that traditional investigative tools may be insufficient against increasingly digital and transnational criminal networks. By integrating AI into enforcement operations, Germany aims to accelerate investigations, improve asset tracing and enhance inter-agency coordination.
