Organized crime groups caused billions of euros in damage in Germany in 2023, a new report released on Thursday found.
A study by the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) found that losses last year rose to €2.7 billion ($3 billion), 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 Chairman Holger Münch presented the results of the study in Berlin.
The majority of the financial losses were attributed to cybercrime. In one case, a single gang caused losses of €1.7 million by stealing bank details from unsuspecting victims.
Organized crime groups have also continued to use violence, endangering public safety, the report said. The report noted four murders and 34 attempted murders by criminal groups.
Last year, the BKA registered 642 procedures against organised criminal groups, slightly more than the average of the past 10 years.
Drug trafficking is the main source of investigation, accounting for approximately 40% of procedures.