Cybercrime Investigations Decline in Germany's LZC

In Germany, the Landeszentralstelle Cybercrime (LZC) at the General Prosecutor's Office in Koblenz reported a significant decline in cybercrime investigations. From 2439 cases closed in 2023, the number fell to approximately 1650 in 2024, and just 371 in 2025. The head of the LZC, Jörg Angerer, stated that fluctuations in case numbers often relate to larger investigative complexes that can generate follow-up cases, which weren't present in the last two years. Factors such as under-staffing in 2025 also affected investigative capacity, particularly toward cases involving critical infrastructure like hospitals and energy companies.

The LZC's focus on significant cyber incidents, including ransomware attacks, highlights a diminished capacity to engage with cybercrime effectively. Ransomware instances, where attackers encrypt data and demand ransom, are prevalent, and the inability to address these rising cases could leave vital sectors vulnerable. The trend indicates a troubling potential reliance on external cybersecurity measures, heightening national dependency on foreign technologies and solutions for managing cyber threats, thus complicating Germany's sovereign capability in this area.