Saarland's Joint Drug Unit Marks 30 Years of Fighting Cross-Border Crime
The Joint Drug Investigation Unit (GER) Saarland will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2025. Founded in 1995, the unit was designed to tackle drug-related crime in Saarland and the wider Saar-Lor-Lux Greater Region. Its creation followed a 1990 federal strategy calling for closer cooperation between police and customs authorities.
The unit was established as part of Germany's broader push against drug trafficking. It brought together officers from the Frankfurt Main Customs Investigation Office and the Saarland State Police Directorate. Their combined expertise aimed to disrupt criminal networks operating across borders.
Over the past three decades, the GER Saarland has focused on large-scale drug trafficking cases. Its work spans both national and international investigations, targeting organized crime groups. The unit's structure—merging police and customs resources—has become a model for effective interagency collaboration.
The GER Saarland's mission remains clear: to uncover and dismantle drug trade networks. Its operations have contributed significantly to internal security in the region. Authorities have highlighted its role in maintaining targeted and efficient enforcement against cross-border drug crime.
The unit's 30-year record shows its importance in combating drug trafficking. By pooling police and customs expertise, it has strengthened enforcement in the Greater Region. Officials expect this model to remain central to future anti-drug efforts.
