This ZDFzeit documentary investigates the infiltration of German authorities by criminal clans. The film explores the clans' extensive networks, their methods of corruption, and the challenges faced by law enforcement in combating this organized crime. The video highlights cases of bribery, manipulation of investigations, and the overall threat posed by these deeply entrenched criminal organizations.
Widespread Clan Infiltration: Criminal clans have infiltrated various German authorities, including police and other security agencies, utilizing bribery and manipulation to hinder investigations and protect their illegal activities. This poses a significant threat to the state.
Methods of Corruption: Clans employ various methods, including bribery (paying officials for information or to obstruct justice), and leveraging existing networks for information leaks concerning impending raids. The scale of bribery ranges from a few thousand to hundreds of thousands of euros.
Challenges for Law Enforcement: Law enforcement faces significant challenges, including information leaks, understaffing, and difficulties in prosecuting cases due to insufficient evidence. The investigation and prosecution of these crimes are complicated by the clans' sophisticated methods and their ability to operate across multiple levels of government and society.
Financial Impact: The illegal activities of the clans generate hundreds of millions of euros annually, primarily through activities such as the illegal production and sale of shisha tobacco, and the illicit sale of driving licenses. Their overall accumulated wealth is estimated to be in the hundreds of millions, possibly even billions of euros.
Geographic Spread: The clans' influence extends beyond major cities into rural areas. The documentary shows that their criminal activities are not limited to urban centers, but have spread into smaller towns and villages, posing a significant challenge to local authorities.
The documentary highlights several legal and procedural obstacles hindering effective prosecution of clan-related crimes:
Insufficient Evidence: In nearly half of the investigated cases in Niedersachsen, there wasn't enough evidence to file charges. In another 15%, prosecution was waived for various reasons. This results in only one in three investigations leading to an indictment.
Difficulties Tracing Illegal Funds: It's exceptionally difficult to track the clans' illegal money. The Financial Intelligence Unit in Cologne struggles with this, highlighting the clans' sophisticated methods and the lack of resources to effectively combat money laundering. The estimated amount of laundered money is in the range of 100 billion Euros annually.
Inadequate Legal Framework: The current German legal framework makes tackling money laundering difficult, unlike in some other European countries (such as Italy, which has a dedicated financial authority and a reversed burden of proof regarding the origin of assets). Germany lacks similar legal provisions.
Witness Protection: The documentary implies difficulties in witness protection and the reluctance of witnesses to testify due to fear of retaliation from the powerful clans. This lack of cooperation from witnesses makes it harder to build strong cases against the criminals.
Der Film beleuchtet mehrere rechtliche und verfahrenstechnische Hindernisse, die eine effektive Strafverfolgung von Clan-Delikten behindern:
Unzureichende Beweislage: In fast der Hälfte der in Niedersachsen untersuchten Fälle gab es nicht genügend Beweise für eine Anklageerhebung. In weiteren 15 % wurde aus verschiedenen Gründen von einer Strafverfolgung abgesehen. Dies führt dazu, dass nur jedes dritte Ermittlungsverfahren mit einer Anklage endet.
Schwierigkeiten bei der Aufdeckung illegaler Gelder: Es ist ausserordentlich schwierig, die illegalen Gelder der Clans zu verfolgen. Die Financial Intelligence Unit in Köln kämpft damit, was die ausgeklügelten Methoden der Clans und den Mangel an Ressourcen zur effektiven Bekämpfung von Geldwäsche aufzeigt. Die geschätzte Menge an gewaschenen Geldern liegt bei ca. 100 Milliarden Euro jährlich.
Unzureichende Rechtsgrundlagen: Die derzeitige deutsche Rechtslage erschwert die Bekämpfung von Geldwäsche, anders als in einigen anderen europäischen Ländern (wie Italien, das über eine eigene Finanzbehörde und eine umgekehrte Beweislast bezüglich der Herkunft von Vermögen verfügt). Deutschland fehlt es an vergleichbaren gesetzlichen Regelungen.
Zeugenschutz: Der Film deutet auf Schwierigkeiten beim Zeugenschutz und die Zurückhaltung von Zeugen aufgrund der Angst vor Vergeltung durch die mächtigen Clans hin. Dieser Mangel an Zeugenkooperation erschwert den Aufbau solider Fälle gegen die Kriminellen.
