German Authorities Busted an International Drugs Vendor
Bamberg Prosecutor General announced the apprehension and prosecution of seven suspects linked to a drug trafficking operation that distributed a wide variety of drugs online.
Investigations by the Bavarian State Criminal Police Office (BLKA), the Munich Customs Investigation Office (ZFAM), and the Bamberg Prosecutor General, Central Cybercrime Bavaria (ZCB) revealed that the defendants were involved in the distribution of cocaine, meth, ecstasy, and other drugs via the darknet and clearnet.
The investigations were triggered by the overdose death of a 44-year-old man in April 2021. The investigations revealed that the deceased had purchased the cocaine that resulted in his death from an online drugstore.
Operators of the drug shop claimed they had moved their operations from the darknet to the clearnet to make their drugs easily accessible. They received orders via email or an encrypted messaging platform and accepted payments in Bitcoin and Monero.
Information acquired from Deutsche Post and Blockchain analysis led the investigators to a 46-year-old man. He was arrested in Berlin in January 2022 and found in possession of approximately 35 kilograms of drugs.
In April, the investigators arrested the 46-year-old's accomplice, a 46-year-old Dutchman. Police found four kilograms of drugs in his home in the Netherlands.
The investigators established that the duo began selling drugs on the darknet in July 2019 before moving their operations to the Clearnet. They engaged in the illicit sale of kilos of MDMA, cocaine, meth, and ecstasy. They reportedly fulfilled 2150 orders and made more than 500,000 Euros from the sales.
The duo was convicted and sentenced to seven years and two months in prison on January 15, 2023.
In August 2022, the investigators arrested two Dutch nationals, a 31-year-old woman and a 35-year-old man, responsible for packaging and shipping drugs sold by the duo. The investigators seized 5 kilograms from the woman's apartment.
The duo was paid 5,000 Euros every month for their services. The investigators established that between December 2021 and August 2022, they had shipped more than 7 kilos of drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and meth, as well as 68,000 LSD strips.
On May 19, 2023, the Bamberg Regional Court sentenced the 35-year-old man to six years and ten months in prison and the 31-year-old woman to six years and two months.
Information acquired from the convicted members of the drug trafficking operation and further investigations resulted in the identification and arrest of three Dutch nationals in August 2023.
A 31-year-old who acted as a drug courier was arrested in Düsseldorf and found in possession of 20 kilograms of drugs. The second defendant, a 32-year-old, was arrested in Amsterdam and extradited to Germany. The third, a 28-year-old, was arrested and detained in the Netherlands. Dutch authorities searched five properties and seized electronic devices, cash, and other assets.
Investigations into the drug trafficking operation are ongoing. Criminal proceedings against an undisclosed number of suspected buyers are ongoing.
Investigations by the Bavarian State Criminal Police Office (BLKA), the Munich Customs Investigation Office (ZFAM), and the Bamberg Prosecutor General, Central Cybercrime Bavaria (ZCB) revealed that the defendants were involved in the distribution of cocaine, meth, ecstasy, and other drugs via the darknet and clearnet.
The investigations were triggered by the overdose death of a 44-year-old man in April 2021. The investigations revealed that the deceased had purchased the cocaine that resulted in his death from an online drugstore.
Operators of the drug shop claimed they had moved their operations from the darknet to the clearnet to make their drugs easily accessible. They received orders via email or an encrypted messaging platform and accepted payments in Bitcoin and Monero.
Information acquired from Deutsche Post and Blockchain analysis led the investigators to a 46-year-old man. He was arrested in Berlin in January 2022 and found in possession of approximately 35 kilograms of drugs.
In April, the investigators arrested the 46-year-old's accomplice, a 46-year-old Dutchman. Police found four kilograms of drugs in his home in the Netherlands.
The investigators established that the duo began selling drugs on the darknet in July 2019 before moving their operations to the Clearnet. They engaged in the illicit sale of kilos of MDMA, cocaine, meth, and ecstasy. They reportedly fulfilled 2150 orders and made more than 500,000 Euros from the sales.
The duo was convicted and sentenced to seven years and two months in prison on January 15, 2023.
In August 2022, the investigators arrested two Dutch nationals, a 31-year-old woman and a 35-year-old man, responsible for packaging and shipping drugs sold by the duo. The investigators seized 5 kilograms from the woman's apartment.
The duo was paid 5,000 Euros every month for their services. The investigators established that between December 2021 and August 2022, they had shipped more than 7 kilos of drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and meth, as well as 68,000 LSD strips.
On May 19, 2023, the Bamberg Regional Court sentenced the 35-year-old man to six years and ten months in prison and the 31-year-old woman to six years and two months.
Information acquired from the convicted members of the drug trafficking operation and further investigations resulted in the identification and arrest of three Dutch nationals in August 2023.
A 31-year-old who acted as a drug courier was arrested in Düsseldorf and found in possession of 20 kilograms of drugs. The second defendant, a 32-year-old, was arrested in Amsterdam and extradited to Germany. The third, a 28-year-old, was arrested and detained in the Netherlands. Dutch authorities searched five properties and seized electronic devices, cash, and other assets.
Investigations into the drug trafficking operation are ongoing. Criminal proceedings against an undisclosed number of suspected buyers are ongoing.
