Thanks to the cooperation of law enforcement agencies from Poland, Germany, and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, an organized criminal group involved in smuggling cocaine from South America to Europe has been dismantled. The Polish investigation into the case is supervised by the District Prosecutor’s Office in Gliwice.
Investigation Begins in Hamburg
The case gained momentum in June 2023 when German officials from Karlsruhe discovered a large shipment of drugs hidden in a tuna transport. At that time, two tons of cocaine were seized. Further actions by German authorities led to the confiscation of an additional four tons of the drug in Ecuador. Investigations revealed that the criminal organization operated on a large scale, with connections extending to Poland and the Netherlands. As a result, international cooperation was established under the Joint Drug Investigation Team, involving officers from Poland’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBŚP) as well as German and Dutch law enforcement agencies.
Successful Operation Across Multiple Countries
Following a detailed analysis of the gathered evidence, authorities conducted a coordinated operation in Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland. The actions involved officers from the Poznań branch of Poland’s Central Bureau of Investigation, as well as personnel from the Baden-Württemberg State Criminal Police Office and the Customs Office in Stuttgart. The entire operation was overseen by the Hamburg Prosecutor’s Office with support from Dutch police.
As a result of the operation, six individuals were arrested, and eleven properties used by the suspects were searched. In Germany, three suspects were detained, two in Poland, and one in the Netherlands. In Poland, operations were carried out in the Greater Poland Voivodeship, where a Polish and a Turkish citizen were taken into custody.
Seized Evidence and Ongoing Investigation
During the searches, authorities secured data storage devices, documents, weapons, ammunition, luxury vehicles, valuable watches, and cash. The Polish aspect of the investigation focuses on the activities of the organized criminal group and the money laundering process, which allegedly stemmed from drug trafficking. This part of the case is under the supervision of the District Prosecutor’s Office in Gliwice.
The proceedings related to international drug trafficking are led by the German authorities. One of the suspects arrested in Poland has been handed over to the German justice system for prosecution. The ongoing investigation aims to fully dismantle the criminal structure and identify all individuals involved in the operation.
Source: Manager Plus
