The Italian Mafia is quietly expanding its reach in Germany, infiltrating entire industries. Germany could learn a lot from Italy in addressing this issue.
(Source: Christoph Reichwein/imago-images-bilder)
In Germany, the Italian Mafia is no longer just an Italian problem. As revealed by the investigative podcast team of “Mafia Land,” the Mafia has significantly expanded its criminal activities in Germany. This development has largely gone unnoticed, even though its impact is already being felt.
The Mafia, particularly the ‘Ndrangheta, has managed to expand its illegal operations in Germany almost undetected. Awareness of the Mafia in Germany was underdeveloped until a sixfold murder in Duisburg in August 2007. At that time, six members of the ‘Ndrangheta were shot dead in front of an Italian restaurant.
Today, it is understood that this was an act of revenge between two ‘Ndrangheta families. Only after this incident did the public slowly begin to realize that the Italian Mafia was also active in Germany, according to the “Mafia Mercatista” episode of the SWR podcast “Mafia Land.”
A club stands up against the Mafia
One example of resistance against the Mafia is the founding of the association “Mafia? Nein, danke!” in Berlin. It was initiated by Laura Garavini, who was determined to take a stand against organized crime in Germany following the Duisburg murders. The association helps restaurant owners who refuse to pay protection money. However, the Mafia remains a constant threat, as evidenced by arson attacks on restaurants in Berlin. The association was also founded in response to these incidents.
Germany is considered a money laundering paradise, particularly due to the high cash payment limits. Mafiosi exploit this loophole to funnel large amounts of money into the legal financial system unnoticed. The “Falcone Method”—tracking money flows—is only partially applicable in Germany, giving the Mafia additional opportunities to conceal their illegal earnings.
Money flows often leave traces, which the “Falcone Method” uses to follow them. This method is primarily applied in Italy. Due to existing laws in Germany, this approach cannot be fully implemented, as author Petra Reski explains on her website.
The threat to the economy
As revealed by David Schraven from “Correctiv,” the Mafia exploits the weaknesses of the construction industry in Germany. Under-the-table work and evasion of social contributions are common practices that allow the Mafia to win contracts below market prices while laundering illegally obtained money.
The Mafia is increasingly investing its illegal profits in real estate and construction projects in Germany, which not only distorts the real estate market but could also threaten entire industries in the long run. If the legal sector is pushed out by mafia methods, “dirty sectors” may emerge where legitimate businesses can hardly gain a foothold.
A quiet increase in power
Despite this threat, Germany struggles to take effective measures against the Mafia. The legal basis for asset seizures is weak, and law enforcement faces limitations, as experts repeatedly emphasize.
While in Italy, mere membership in the Mafia is punishable by law, in Germany, only individual crimes are often prosecuted, not the organization behind them. Additionally, in Italy, money can be seized preventively if there is suspicion of Mafia involvement. In Germany, the barriers for this are much higher, as Petra Reski writes.
The Italian Mafia has built an extensive network in Germany, spanning from gastronomy and construction to real estate. This development largely occurs in the shadows, but the threat to the German economy and society is growing, as concluded in the “Mafia Land” podcast.
