Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil of the SPD announced that, instead of establishing an entirely new federal agency to combat money laundering, the German government intends to strengthen and reform the existing customs authorities. According to a letter reported by the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” Klingbeil stated that his decision was driven by the need to make the customs services more effective in tackling money laundering, as well as financing terrorism and proliferation.
The vice chancellor stressed that money laundering poses a “significant” threat to Germany’s economy and financial sector. He noted that it endangers the integrity of the financial system, drains substantial state revenue, and strengthens criminal networks.
Historically, international organizations have frequently criticized Germany for having insufficient measures against money laundering. Previously, the Ampel coalition, under Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP), had planned to create a centralized “Federal Agency for Combatting Financial Crime” to consolidate various fragmented jurisdictions. However, due to internal disputes, this legislation was never passed.
Klingbeil is now abandoning those plans. Instead, the central organization for anti-money laundering efforts, the Central Investigation Unit for Financial Transactions (FIU), will remain within customs. To ensure compliance with international standards, however, the FIU will gain enhanced technical and organizational independence.
The customs service, as part of the new reforms, will adopt new powers: specialized federal units within customs will take over criminal investigations related to major international money laundering cases nationwide. Furthermore, a “National Expertise Center” will be established within the FIU to professionalize personnel across federal and state levels, preparing them to tackle money laundering and counter-terrorism financing. Klingbeil concluded that these comprehensive measures are designed to ensure Germany is fully prepared for the next review by the international Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which is scheduled for 2028/2029.