{"id":57028,"date":"2026-02-25T07:50:37","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T12:50:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/germany-seeks-to-enlist-ai-modernise-security-bodies-in-fight-against-organised-crime\/25\/02\/2026\/"},"modified":"2026-02-25T07:50:37","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T12:50:37","slug":"germany-seeks-to-enlist-ai-modernise-security-bodies-in-fight-against-organised-crime","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/germany-seeks-to-enlist-ai-modernise-security-bodies-in-fight-against-organised-crime\/25\/02\/2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Germany seeks to enlist AI, modernise security bodies in fight against organised crime"},"content":{"rendered":"

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BERLIN, Feb 25 (Reuters) – Germany plans to modernise its main security authorities and enlist AI in its fight against organised crime, as it cracks down \u200con financial offences, money laundering and drug-related cases, the ministries of finance, \u200cinterior affairs and justice said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

The ministries aim to modernise Germany’s customs and federal criminal police, or \u200bBKA, among others by expanding their legal and technical capabilities and increasing their staff.<\/p>\n

According to the BKA, organised crime remains one of the greatest threats to internal security, causing an estimated 2.64 billion euros ($3.1 billion) economic damage in 2024.<\/p>\n

“We are ensuring that the investigating authorities \u200chit the perpetrators where it \u2060hurts most: their money,” Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said in a statement.<\/p>\n

The ministries aim to enable more rapid confiscation of assets from dubious \u2060sources, including cash, luxury cars and houses.<\/p>\n

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the BKA would get more staff, powers and enforcement authority. The plan also calls for joint data analysis centres \u200band investigation \u200bteams between customs and the BKA to tackle \u200bmoney laundering and narcotics.<\/p>\n

Klingbeil said customs \u200cand BKA will be able to access each other’s data and use artificial intelligence<\/a> to identify perpetrators and sift through large volumes of information.<\/p>\n

While local police carry out routine policing and most crime investigations under laws set by each of the 16 federal states, federal police are responsible for border, rail and aviation security.<\/p>\n

The BKA acts as \u200cGermany’s federal investigative authority, handling serious and organised crime \u200bwith national and transnational scope, often coordinating complex \u200bcases that cross state or international \u200bborders.<\/p>\n

Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig said organised crime undermines trust in the \u200crule of law and must not be \u200ballowed to pay off, \u200bnoting perpetrators should be swiftly identified, prosecuted and punished.<\/p>\n

The BKA reported that in 2024, illegal drug trafficking accounted for 40% of organised crime proceedings, or 259 \u200bout of 650 cases, while \u200cmoney laundering was involved in 146 cases for a total volume of around \u200b230 million euros.<\/p>\n

($1 = 0.8488 euros)<\/p>\n

(Reporting by Christian Kraemer, writing by Linda Pasquini, \u200bEditing by Kirsti Knolle and Hugh Lawson)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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BERLIN, Feb 25 (Reuters) – Germany plans to modernise its main security authorities and enlist AI in its fight against organised crime,