Lower Saxony is fighting against organized crime with new positions!

Lower Saxony is fighting against organized crime with new positions!

In Lower Saxony, the fight against organized crime is becoming increasingly important. Justice Minister Kathrin Wahlmann today presented new plans that provide for a massive expansion of the judiciary's personnel. In the coming year, a total of 34 additional positions in the public prosecutor's office and six judge positions are to be created. This is part of a comprehensive strategy to strengthen the rule of law and combat crime more effectively. Already this year, around 100 new positions have been created in the public prosecutor's offices by relocating from less burdened sectors, reports nord24.de.

But what is behind these numbers? In a national comparison, Lower Saxony ranks second in the number of proceedings against organized crime (OK). In 2023, police conducted 68 investigations, with the main focus on international drug trafficking and smuggling. A total of 736 suspects from 49 countries were identified, 43% of whom were of German nationality. This illustrates how complex and far-reaching the problem is, as Lower Saxony's Justice Minister explained in a press conference.

New focus on cybercrime

A notable part of the new initiative is the planned establishment of a central office to combat cybercrime, which is expected to begin operations from June 2026. Specially trained specialists should work together here to effectively counter the new threats in the digital space. The draft budget for the coming year provides for 19 new positions. This is a clear sign that Lower Saxony has recognized the seriousness of cybercrime and wants to act proactively.

In addition to the new positions, work is also underway on a new platform that will make it possible to better bundle information and skills. This measure is part of the general strategy to improve the fight against complex criminal structures. Permanent investigation groups (SEG) should be set up in every police station in order to be able to respond better to the challenges regionally.

Cooperation with federal authorities

The security authorities in Lower Saxony work closely with federal authorities and international partners to dismantle organized crime structures more effectively. One of the measures that contributed to gaining knowledge is the evaluation of crypted communication, based on 21 of 68 OC procedures this year. This shows that the authorities are making intensive use of modern technologies to stay one step ahead of criminals.

Fighting organized crime is no easy task and the challenges are enormous. In 2023, the projected total damage from criminal activities amounted to a total of 114 million euros. This amount has fallen significantly compared to the previous year - in 2022 the total damage was still 468 million euros. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the profits of organized crime were around 15 million euros, of which only 3 million euros could be skimmed off, which corresponds to a recovery rate of 19.49%.

The Lower Saxony government's plans show a clear commitment to maintaining security and the rule of law. Ultimately, the comprehensive fight against organized crime is a central concern that affects all areas of society and requires the commitment of state institutions in order to continue to ensure security in the future. It remains to be hoped that the new measures will take effect quickly and make the lives of citizens in Lower Saxony a little safer.