Joint financial investigation group
Joint Financial Investigation Groups (GFG) are investigation teams of the German Customs Administration in cooperation with other agencies such as the state police , the Federal Criminal Police Office , the Federal Police and the state fiscal administrations . They are responsible for prosecuting money laundering crimes .
Cash and cash monitoring
In 2007, there were significant changes in the way in which the cross-border movement of cash and cash is monitored:
Since June 15, 2007, Regulation (EC) No. 1889/2005 has been applicable in all member states of the European Union (EU). Since then, travelers have had to register cash with a value of 10,000 euros or more at the customs office responsible for crossing the border when entering and leaving the EU.
The registration takes place in the Federal Republic of Germany in writing. Registration forms are provided in paper form and electronically in German and English. Compliance with the notification requirement is monitored by the customs authorities.
The obligation to submit a registration does not restrict the free movement of capital. An unlimited amount of cash may also be carried in the future without authorization.
The form of cash control practiced in the Federal Republic of Germany since 1998 is maintained in cross-border cash transactions between the Federal Republic and other EU member states. In deviation from the regulation under Regulation (EC) No. 1889/2005, cash carried and equivalent means of payment only need to be reported orally and only upon request by the responsible officials. However, the threshold from which the obligation to notify takes effect has been reduced from 15,000 euros to 10,000 euros in line with EU regulations. In contrast to EU law, precious metals and gemstones remain notifiable as so-called equivalent means of payment.
Violations of the registration and notification obligation constitute administrative offenses that can be punished with a fine of up to one million euros.
Web links
- Regulation (EC) No. 1889/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council of October 26, 2005
- Monitoring of cross-border cash transactions by German customs ( Memento from August 27, 2011 in the Internet Archive )
- Cash and cash monitoring: changes in the monitoring of cross-border traffic in cash and cash ( Memento dated December 6, 2008 in the Internet Archive )