In recent years, the criminal family clans based in Berlin have garnered significant national attention, almost acquiring a pop culture aura. This notoriety has been fuelled by spectacular crimes such as the theft of a 100-kilogram gold coin from the Berlin Bode Museum in 2017, and the burglary of the Green Vault in Dresden two and a half years later. Both incidents are alleged to have been committed by the Remmo family. Additionally, the high-profile trial of clan leader Arafat Abou-Chaker, who publicly clashed in court with his former business partner, rapper Bushido, has contributed to their fame. The TV series „4 Blocks“, which centres on a Lebanese family from Berlin-Neukölln, has also played a role. The show has won prominent awards, and Kida Khodr Ramadan, who plays the clan leader Toni Hamady, has become a star.

The reality in the capital, as depicted in the new police report, bears little resemblance to pop culture. However the report does details concrete issues such as bodily harm, theft, embezzlement, drug offenses, fraud, armed threats, money laundering, property damage, extortion, and even murder. And the new statistics for 2023 reveal a total of 1,063 crimes attributed to clan criminality, which is about 200 more than in the previous two years. Currently, the Berlin police identify 633 individuals as members of these criminal families. Nearly half hold German citizenship, a quarter have Lebanese backgrounds, and many have unclear citizenship status. Among the top three suspects of the past year are a 24-year-old Swede with 65 alleged offenses, and a 14-year-old Iranian with 28 offenses.

„Clan crime has been undermining our legal and value system for decades“, complained Interior Senator Iris Spranger. Lately, the police have been responding to clan-related incidents every third day. Nearly 500 properties have been checked, and efforts are being made to maintain pressure. Financial investigations into the notorious families are considered key, with a focus on the used car trade, as well as the construction, security, and hospitality industries.

But it’s not straightforward, as the police report acknowledges. Strong family cohesion, and the prevailing patriarchal hierarchy within these families, complicate investigations. The report notes that dominant, aggressive behaviour in public creates discomfort among the population. This discomfort has prompted political action. In April, the Berlin CDU adopted an eight-point plan to combat clan crime, including a proposal to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 14 to 12.