Record-breaking: Potsdam cracks down on drug trafficking and undeclared work!

Record-breaking: Potsdam cracks down on drug trafficking and undeclared work!

In 2024, the customs authorities, especially the Potsdam Main Customs Office, achieved impressive results in the fight against drug crime and undeclared work. Bild.de reports that .... More than 500 kg of marijuana and over 640 kg of cat were seized, which represents a drastic increase compared to the previous year's figures, in which only 17 kg of marijuana and 211 kg of cat were seized. There is also a plus with 2,000 g of hashish.

However, there has also been a decline in the seizures of cocaine and amphetamine. In 2024, customs discovered only 122 g of cocaine and almost 500 g of amphetamine, while in 2023 over 1,000 g of cocaine and more than 6,500 g of amphetamine were seized. This development could indicate a shift in drug markets.

Black work in focus

The black market, particularly in tobacco products, has also changed. The number of products seized clearly shows that the focus has now shifted to electronic tobacco products. Over 543,000 electronic products were arrested, supplemented by 8,400 kg of hookah tobacco and 438,000 cigarettes, cigarillos and cigars. Combating these illegal businesses is one of the core tasks of the Financial Control of Undeclared Work (FKS).

In 2024, the FKS initiated a total of 1,587 criminal proceedings and 761 fine proceedings, while the damage caused by undeclared work is estimated at almost 18.5 million euros. These findings show that the fight against illegal employment remains a central concern of the German authorities. Zoll.de adds that ...

The FKS not only monitors compliance with social security reporting obligations, but also checks whether employers properly register their employees for social security. After all, there were around 25,000 employer audits in Germany in 2024, which impressively shows that undeclared work remains a relevant issue in almost all economic sectors, especially in wage-intensive sectors.

Financial successes and challenges

The Potsdam Main Customs Office collected more than 100.2 million euros in outstanding claims last year - 23.5 million euros more than in the previous year. This shows that the tax authority not only ensures security, but also acts as an important source of income for the state. In total, the main customs office was able to collect 488 million euros in taxes and customs duties, which was particularly influenced by the import sales tax of almost 389 million euros.

There is another bright spot in the fight against undeclared work, where the courts have imposed fines totaling 438,750 euros and prison sentences totaling 438 months. [The Federal Ministry of Finance points out that ...](https://www.bundesfinanzministerium.de/Content/DE/Standardartikel/Themen/ Zoll/Gerechtigkeit-faire-Arbeit/illegal-ist-unsocial.html). The increase in organized forms of undeclared work is alarming, so increased monitoring and adjustment of laws must be carefully considered.

For anyone who is interested in becoming active in the public service, the Potsdam Main Customs Office is looking for young talent for training or studying in the middle and senior civil service. The application deadline is October 15, 2025 for a career start in September 2026. The career path for many future-oriented people could begin here!