The Federal Court of Justice rejected the appeals filed by eight defendants against a judgment from the Hamburg Regional Court. The appeal relates to the aiding of the import of several tons of cocaine. The Regional Court had previously sentenced the defendants to prison terms ranging from six to twelve years for aiding the import of narcotics in substantial quantities.
According to the Regional Court’s findings, three of the defendants assisted in recovering over 2.5 tons of cocaine in May 2024. This drug was found within a South American banana container while it was scheduled for inspection at a container screening facility in the Port of Hamburg. Later, two of the defendants were implicated in a subsequent plan in September 2024, which sought to recover more than 2.1 tons of cocaine. Police seized the drugs when the container was unloaded in a warehouse near the port.
The review of the judgment by the Federal Court found no legal errors against the defendants. The only minor adjustment made was the cancellation of a €2,000 seizure order against one of the accused. Consequently, the judgment handed down by the Regional Court is now legally final (Decision of September 23, 2026 – 5 StR 399/26).
