Organized crime groups in Germany cause almost €3 billion in damage

Organized crime groups caused billions of euros in damage in Germany in 2023, a new report showed on Thursday.

The study by the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) said losses amounted to €2.7 billion ($3 billion) last year, more than double the €1.3 billion reported in 2022.

The figure was the highest in the past 10 years, the report said.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and BKA President Holger Münch presented the results of the study in Berlin.

The majority of financial damage was attributed to cybercrime. In one case, a single gang caused losses of €1.7 million by eliciting bank details from unsuspecting victims.

Organized crime groups have also continued to use violence, endangering public security, the report said. It listed four murders and 34 attempted killings by criminal groups.

Last year, the BKA recorded 642 proceedings against organized crime groups, slightly above the 10-year average.

Drug trafficking is the main source of investigations, accounting for around 40% of proceedings.