Drug trafficking with weapons: Rostock defendants are allowed to go on vacation first!

Drug trafficking with weapons: Rostock defendants are allowed to go on vacation first!

Things have been very busy in Rostock in the last few days. Benjamin H. and Andre Sch., both in their mid-thirties and apparently well-off, appeared before the district court because of their involvement in drug deals. Benjamin, a train driver and father of an eleven-year-old son, as well as Andre, a landscaper and property manager with three children, have now come into the focus of the justice system. The accusation? Drug trafficking and keeping an illegal weapon. As [nordkurier.de](https://www.nordkurier.de/regional/rostock/drogenhandel-mit- Waffen-vor-haftantritt-geht-es-erst-noch-in-den-urlaub-3669060) reports, the investigation was triggered by an anonymous tip from a “confidant”, which provides further information about the structures of the drug trade in the region.

The investigators came across a hole in the ground on a farm where they found an impressive five kilograms of marijuana and a fully automatic pistol without a weapon number. This weapon was modified so that twelve cartridges fit into the magazine. Benjamin H. stated that he had purchased marijuana for his own use and, according to his statements, knew nothing about the weapon. Andre Sch. However, he is accused of buying and selling the drugs in Hamburg while he resides in Rostock.

Court verdict and punishment

The public prosecutor demanded a suspended sentence of six months for Benjamin H. and for Andre Sch. a prison sentence of two years and eight months. Ultimately, the court granted H. the possibility of probation and Sch. the prison sentence. In an unexpected twist, Andre Sch. permission to go on vacation before he had to start his prison sentence and also waived the return of the weapon. The judge and public prosecutor urged both defendants to remain unpunished in the future, especially during the probation period. [nordkurier.de](https://www.nordkurier.de/regional/rostock/drogenhandel-mit- Waffen-vor-haftantritt-geht-es-erst-noch-in-den-urlaub-3669060) shows that this verdict is more than just a case of drug trafficking - it sheds light on the deep problems our society is struggling with.

The situation with drugs in Germany is not easy. According to Statista, around 347,000 drug crime cases were recorded by the police in 2023, an increase of 2 percent compared to the previous year. Cannabis plays a significant role in this; the proportion of cannabis cases has exceeded the 90 percent mark for years. About 208,000 of these cases involved cannabis, which has been partially legal since April 1, 2024. But despite these changes, the drug market in the region remains problematic.

Background and organization of the drug trade

A look at the drug landscape in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania shows that the criminal structures are deeply rooted. According to ndr.de, these are often organizations that have their origins in the former Soviet Union. The Russian mafia in particular plays a central role in organizing the drug trade in the region, with wastewater analyzes showing increasing patterns of consumption of illegal substances. A key witness, Aleksej G., also lived there and spoke about the mechanisms and networks that make such deals possible.

The drug trade is therefore not just a case of individual crimes, but reflects larger social problems that are fueled by a large number of actors. Drug-related crime is a large-scale phenomenon driven by violence, corruption and socio-economic problems that continues to create many challenges in our society.