Briefing
Lower Saxony’s Ministry of the Interior and Ministry of Justice presented in Hanover the the report ‘Organised Crime in Lower Saxony 2025’ According to the report, the estimated total losses in 2025 amounted to €48.85 million. The report was presented by Interior Minister Daniela Behrens and Justice Minister Kathrin Wahlmann.
The authorities attribute the figure to investigations by the Polizei, public prosecution services and other state agencies. It mainly covers economic losses caused by criminal proceeds and the transfer of assets. drug trafficking According to the report, drug trafficking remains the main focus of organised criminal groups. It cites groups with a division of labour, some operating across borders, and using professional logistics and concealment tactics.
Alongside the loss figures, the report documents confiscations and seizures. These amounted to millions of euros in 2025, but remained below the estimated total losses. The state government emphasises asset recovery as a key tool for weakening criminal groups financially. At the same time, the ministries note methodological uncertainties: loss estimates can vary depending on the valuation approach and data used, and projections involve a margin of error.
According to state authorities, fewer cases of organised crime were investigated in 2025 than in previous peak years. At the same time, the ministries point to specific successes in identifying and securing criminals’ assets. A more precise assessment of statewide trends requires the methodology to be updated regularly and case figures to be made more comparable.
At national level, security agencies have for some time highlighted the high adaptability of organised groups, particularly in money laundering, logistics and the use of digital communications. Against this backdrop, the state announced plans to deepen cooperation between the police, justice system, customs and financial authorities, and to expand analytical capacity for tracking financial flows.
The figures and findings released today come from the report ‘Organised Crime in Lower Saxony 2025’, which analyses the latest statewide data. Any comparisons with national figures are reserved for the relevant federal report; direct numerical comparisons are not reliable without a consistent data basis.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).