Misused public fundsTransparencyOversight & ethics enforcement
German auditors say the Finance Ministry spent about 35 million euros on customs smartphones that proved unusable for the encrypted communication they were bought for
Confidence: Confirmed · 3 sourcesGermany · Oct 12, 2026
Subject of this story
Bundesministerium der Finanzen (Generalzolldirektion)
Also named
Oversight
Bundesrechnungshof (Federal Court of Auditors of Germany)
What happened
The Federal Court of Auditors (Bundesrechnungshof), in its 'Bemerkungen 2025' report presented in December 2025, found that the Federal Ministry of Finance bought more than 17,000 special smartphones for customs for about EUR 35 million that were unsuitable for the intended encrypted communication. According to press coverage, most of the devices have already been replaced. The finding was one of many waste and mismanagement cases in the auditors' 176-page report on federal spending.
By the numbers (1)
● confirmed by a primary document · ○ reported
Figures
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Germany's Federal Court of Auditors found the Finance Ministry bought more than 17,000 special smartphones for about 35 million euros that were unusable for their intended encrypted communication.$40.6M
1 source
- Bundesrechnungshof (official audit report, 'Bemerkungen 2025') — Bundesrechnungshof (official audit report, 'Bemerkungen 2025')Document
über 17.000 Spezial-Smartphones für rund 35 Millionen Euro, die für die vorgesehene verschlüsselte Kommunikation unbrauchbar waren
Sources (3)
Bundesrechnungshof (official audit report, 'Bemerkungen 2025')BMF beschafft praxisuntaugliche Smartphones: über 17.000 Spezial-Smartphones für rund 35 Millionen Euro, die für die vorgesehene verschlüsselte Kommunikation unbrauchbar waren.
Berliner ZeitungBundesrechnungshof kritisiert massive Steuergeldverschwendung, listet u.a. die unbrauchbaren Zoll-Smartphones auf.
WirtschaftsWocheRechnungshof wirft Regierung massive Verschwendung vor, 176-seitiger Bericht mit zahlreichen Fällen.
Response
Bundesministerium der Finanzen (Generalzolldirektion)
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What happened next (0)
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