Smuggling under wood: Trial against drug dealers started in Berlin!

Smuggling under wood: Trial against drug dealers started in Berlin!

A spectacular drug trial began today at 9:30 a.m. at the Berlin district court. The focus is on three men who have caused a lot of excitement in recent months. The main charge is against a 51-year-old who is suspected of having bought 64 kilograms of cocaine in Costa Rica and smuggled it to Germany in a teak shipment. This is reported by the Northern Courier.

The cocaine was hidden in wooden beams and transported to Hamburg by ship. The drug shipment was discovered in a container there in December 2024 during a customs inspection. The initial plan was to take the delivery to a construction company in Neukölln, Berlin, which ordered the wooden beams in October 2024. But the company was now insolvent and the goods were redirected to Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia. The two accomplices, aged 50 and 59, support the 51-year-old and are also charged with aiding and abetting the trafficking of narcotics.

The course of the procedure

The public prosecutor's office assumes that the drug intent was behind the deal and the planning of a sale to the Berlin construction company. During the investigation, cell phones and documents were seized, which will now serve as evidence. The three men were provisionally arrested on February 27th this year. The 50-year-old is currently in custody, while the two alleged accomplices have been released on conditions. Their role in drug trafficking also remains the focus of the proceedings, which will run for a total of eight days until October 17th.

Drug crime, and particularly cocaine trafficking, is a growing problem in Germany. Figures show that around 347,000 drug crime cases were recorded by police in 2023, an increase of 2 percent compared to the previous year. Cannabis cases played a significant role at over 90 percent, some of which have been legal since April 2024. However, cocaine remains a challenging substance in the drug trade, and seized drugs continue to attract media attention. Loud Statista Tons of cocaine and other illegal narcotics were smuggled into the country in 55,500 registered drug trafficking offenses in 2023.

Impact on society

The effects of the drug market should not be underestimated. The health and social problems associated with drug use are serious and are becoming increasingly visible. In 2023, the number of drug deaths in Germany climbed to around 2,230, indicating an increase over the years. Especially in days like these, when processes like the current one are being negotiated, it becomes painfully clear how complex and serious the problem is. Bremen, for example, had the highest number of drug-related deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, once again illustrating the grim reality of drug trafficking.

The current proceedings such as the one against the three men show that the fight against drug crime continues and that the authorities are working under high pressure. The seizure of such large quantities of drugs is a ray of hope, but there is actually still a long way to go.