New management at the Frankfurt Customs Fine Office: Dr. Nicole Siebert takes over

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The customs investigation office Frankfurt am Main under the new direction of Dr. Nicole Siebert presented an impressive annual balance for 2023. Dr. Siebert, who has been in this office since April 15, 2024, has extensive experience in customs administration. Her career began in 2010, and before she took over the management of the ZFA, she was the head of the central procurement center of the Federal Finance Administration.

From her perspective as the new director, Dr. Siebert that the customs investigation service has always been of particular interest to you. She explains: "I am pleased to actively shape the present and future of the Frankfurt am Main College Fine Office with all its multifaceted tasks and to make our contribution to the security of the citizens together with my committed employees."

Numerous successes in combating customs crime

The ZFA Frankfurt am Main has primarily committed itself to combating heavier and organized customs crime. There is a clear focus on crime areas such as the smuggling of drugs, weapons and fake products. In 2023 alone, over 6.2 tons of narcotics and more than 10.7 tons of illegal ingredients for drug production were drawn from circulation.

The highlights of this balance are impressive: around 1.8 million unmounted cigarettes and three tons of illegal hookah tobacco have been ensured. This leads to convictions worth a total of 419 years. In total, the ZFA initiated 4,324 new investigations against 4,450 suspects last year.

dr. Siebert emphasizes that the demand for illegal drugs is still high. The customs investigation has determined that the smuggling is increasingly conspiratorial and uses different ways to bypass the controls, for example by posting or hidden in goods. The numbers of the consolidations, especially in synthetic drugs such as MDMA and Crystal Meth, show a worrying increase compared to previous years.

The challenge of tax fraud

Another central topic of customs investigation is the smuggling of goods liable for consumption, in particular tobacco. Dr. Siebert warns that consumers should be aware that their actions contribute to criminal machinations and at the same time causes tax damage of several million euros for the general public. Last year, the customs were able to secure around 1.78 million untrained cigarettes.

In addition, there was great progress in combating violations of species protection and in the area of ​​commercial legal protection. More than 340,000 fake branded products, including clothing and electronic devices, were removed from the market.

dr. Nicole Siebert also emphasizes the importance of financial investigations. "It is of great importance to skim off criminically generated funds from suspects," she explains. In 2023, the customs officers secured assets worth over eleven million euros.

a comprehensive approach to combating crime

The ZFA Frankfurt am Main plays a central role in the national security network with its comprehensive strategy to combat customs crime. The authority not only dealt with drug and weapons smuggling, but also how to effectively prevent money laundering and tax evasion. This holistic approach is crucial to ensure that illegal activities are not only pursued, but also sustainably prevented.

Overall, the annual balance of the customs investigation office Frankfurt am Main shows that even under new management, it is achieved to achieve significant success in the prevention and combating of customs crime. This is not only a positive news for lawful society, but also sets a strong sign against organized crime, which should not have any place in this form.

Hidden challenges in anti -Ziganism and drug trafficking

The fight against organized crime, including drug trafficking and smuggling, is a central part of the work of the customs investigation office. In the context of the cigarette smuggling and narcotics crime, social challenges often occur that go far beyond the mere legal framework. The drug market in Germany, which is increasingly influenced by various criminal organizations, not only affects public security, but also on social structures.

An increasing challenge is anti -codanism, which has become an important topic in various regions of Europe. In Germany, people with a Romani background are often confronted with prejudices and discrimination, which makes their social participation difficult. These prejudices can often also be seen in connection with drug trafficking or criminal activities, which underlines social necessity, to clarify the causes and relationships.

The role of international cooperation in customs law

The customs investigation is an area that increasingly benefits from international cooperation. In Europe, fighting the smuggling is strengthened by networks and cooperation between the Member States. An organization that plays a central role here is Interpol, which facilitates the international exchange of information about criminal activities and improves cooperation between the law enforcement authorities.

In the course of this, multinational initiatives have also formed that aim to monitor and withdraw the methods in drug trafficking. These international efforts are vital because drug crime knows no limits. Statistics show that the proportion of international drug trade has increased in recent years and about 80 % of drug use comes from imported substances. Such surveys can be supported by reports from organizations such as the European drug surveillance center (EMCDDA).

statistics on drug crime

According to the "14th Report on Drug Lage in Germany" from 2023, there was an increase in the crimes related to drugs last year by 13.8 % compared to the previous year. The increase is particularly noticeable in synthetic drugs such as MDMA and methamphetamine.

For 2023, the customs investigation office Frankfurt am Main reported that more than 6.2 tons of drugs were ensured, a clear increase compared to previous years. The smuggling and the consumption of these substances are a growing problem that not only increases the health risks for individuals, but also endangered public security and order.

The need for prevention programs is becoming more and more obvious, not only in terms of combating cash smuggling, but also in the awareness of the population for the dangers and consequences of drug use and trade.