Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) has reported a major blow against international drug trafficking. On Wednesday, authorities executed judicial search warrants from the Duisburg District Court across 15 locations in total. These coordinated measures took place simultaneously in North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, and Bulgaria.
The operation involved multiple agencies: the BKA, the North Rhine-Westphalia police, the tax investigation department, and the Varna Public Prosecutor’s Office in Bulgaria. During the action, investigative experts confiscated substantial evidence, including a sharp firearm, approximately 20,000 Euros in cash, and a significant quantity of narcotics.
One of the main suspects was temporarily detained during the operation. He is currently suspected of armed dealing with cannabis and commercial trafficking of cannabis in large quantities. He was scheduled to appear before the investigation judge at the Dinslaken District Court on Wednesday, where a decision on pre-trial detention will be made.
The investigation focuses on a network comprising eleven suspects of various nationalities, aged between 26 and 63. They are accused of establishing a corporate framework to illegally import large quantities of illicit drugs from South America and Thailand into Germany. Authorities have already seized a shipment amounting to 140 kilograms of marijuana. Furthermore, the network is suspected of transferring several million Euros of undeclared funds abroad. The ongoing investigation is proceeding under suspicion of organized drug trafficking, money laundering, and tax evasion in aggravated circumstances.
