Introduction
International migration flows occupy a critical position in today’s security environment. Every year, millions of people enter new countries in the hope of better living conditions and a sustainable future. However, understanding the integration of migrants and their roles within society is not only a humanitarian issue but also important for public security. In this context, recent reports provide detailed analyses by examining migrants’ tendencies toward criminal activity, offering significant insights.
Immigrants and Crime Correlation: Current Data
The new report published by the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) sheds light on the crime rates among immigrants. In 2024, only 8.8% of the total suspects in the country are migrants. This rate shows a significant decline compared to 2023, indicating that the proportion of migrant offenders relative to the total population continues to decrease.
Interestingly, the number of migrant-related offenders decreased from 178,581 in 2023 to 172,203 in 2024. These figures reveal a 3.6% decrease in the share of migrant offenders within the total offenders. These developments suggest that migrants’ inclination toward crime has decreased proportionally with the migrant population and that integration processes are progressing positively.
Profiles and Crime Types of Migrants Committing Crimes
The groups with the highest criminal records among migrants are mainly citizens from Syria, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Turkey. As of June 2024, the majority of the total suspects from these countries are from these groups. Among those with the most criminal records are Syrians (36,470), Ukrainians (22,098), Afghans (17,798), Iraqis (8,213), and Turkish nationals (7,956).
Analyses clearly indicate that young individuals under 30 are predominant among migrant offenders, and the percentage of males is significantly high. Additionally, the most frequently committed crimes in percentage terms include property and forgery crimes (12.3%), crimes against life (12.2%), theft (12.1%), drug-related crimes (9.5%), violations of personal freedom (9.2%), and sexual offenses (7.9%).
Increase and Role of Turkish Citizens in Crime
The latest data focus on the average crime rates of Turkish citizens and their increasing role in crimes. The number of Turkish asylum seekers increased by 3% from 144,150 in 2023 to 148,535 in 2024. At the same time, there is a notable 25.8% rise in the crime rate among migrants originating from Turkey.
The share of Turkish citizens in crimes shows dramatic increases particularly in sexual offenses and violent crimes. These categories of crimes have seen their share within total crimes grow, with significant rises noted in theft and forgery as well. The increase rate in property and forgery crimes reached 21.8%, indicating a rising involvement of Turkish citizens in organized crime among migrants.
The Position of Turkish Citizens in Organized Crime
The report indicates a concerning trend regarding the involvement of Turkish citizens in organized crime activities. As of 2024, the number of migrants involved in organized crime has increased by 9.4%. It is estimated that around 7,000 suspects are linked to organized crime activities, with 13% of these being Turkish citizens.
The recurring details highlight that criminal groups from Syria, Albania, Lebanon, and Turkey lead the organized crime scene, while the proportion of Turkish citizens operating in illegal sectors such as drug trafficking and human smuggling has reached 18.1%. These data clearly demonstrate the increasing role of Turkish nationals in organized crime structures and their integration into criminal networks.
