Mafia should be met with caution, as stated by Andreas Stenger
The State Criminal Office Baden-Württemberg is taking a firm stance against mafia activity in Germany, focusing on money laundering and corrupting officials.
Recently, a joint operation between German and Italian police resulted in the arrest of dozens of mafia suspects, including a police officer from the Rems-Murr district. The 46-year-old police chief inspector is accused of treason for suspected contacts with the mafia. This arrest underscores the office's commitment to rooting out corruption within law enforcement.
A specialist team has been established to deal exclusively with mafia investigations. This team networks intensively with Italian experts to combat Italian organized crime, a significant threat globally. The principle of "follow the money" is a key strategy in fighting the mafia, and the team is working tirelessly to uncover the financial transactions that fuel their criminal activities.
The mafia's economic impact is a problem, as they can undercut honest businesses with unrealistic prices. Cities and municipalities should be cautious about million-dollar investments from potential criminals. When considering such investments, the source of the money should be questioned for plausibility.
Corrupt officials within law enforcement, the judiciary, or administration are a fundamental aspect of the mafia's strategy to gain information. To address this, strategies include increasing transparency and accountability to reduce the influence of mafia-linked corruption. This involves mechanisms such as disclosing financial information of public officials and promoting ethical conduct in the public sector.
Andreas Stenger, the president of the State Criminal Office in Baden-Württemberg, emphasizes the seriousness of the mafia activities. The mafia is involved in criminal activities with immense energy, threatening the common good. He urges caution when it comes to million-dollar investments, as the mafia's activities can corrupt standard business processes.
Germany has historically struggled due to inadequate organised crime laws, a weak anti-money laundering system that lags behind EU standards, and a high burden of proof for prosecutors to convict mafia members. However, the state and federal authorities are stepping up crackdowns on organised criminal networks involving the mafia. These measures aim to dismantle criminal alliances that involve drug trafficking and money laundering.
The mafia's activities pose a significant danger, and trust in security agencies is crucial for their ability to achieve investigative successes. Erosion of trust is disastrous, according to Stenger. The State Criminal Office Baden-Württemberg is actively working to overcome these challenges by adopting stronger anti-corruption and anti-money laundering measures aligned with broader European efforts.
[1] Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (2021). Germany's struggle against mafia activity. Retrieved from https://www.occrp.org/en/investigations/6571-germany-s-struggle-against-mafia-activity
[2] European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (2022). Combating corruption in the EU. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/publications/combating-corruption-eu_en
