In a historic drug bust, German investigators have confiscated a staggering 35.5 tonnes of cocaine with an estimated street value of around 2.6 billion euros ($2.8 billion), marking the largest cocaine seizure in Germany’s history.
The seizure included 24.5 tonnes in Hamburg, eight tonnes in the Dutch port of Rotterdam, and three tonnes in Guayaquil, Ecuador. The drugs were concealed in nine shipping containers amidst legal goods such as fruit, discovered between April and September of the previous year.
The operation, named “OP Plexus,” was initiated following a tip-off from Colombian authorities and executed in collaboration with Europol.
German authorities identified and apprehended eight primary suspects, including two Germans, two Turks, and individuals from Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Morocco, and Ukraine.
Seven suspects were arrested during raids across Germany in late May and early June of the current year.
The investigation revealed that the suspects, along with unidentified accomplices likely based in Turkey, had established numerous fake companies to facilitate the smuggling of cocaine from South America.
During the raids, authorities seized mobile phones, laptops, gold bars, 23,300 euros in cash, and a Porsche valued at approximately 250,000 euros. Tino Ingelmann, head of the customs investigation in Duesseldorf, noted a significant increase in the amount of cocaine seized in Germany annually, with a total of around 43 tonnes intercepted in 2023 alone.
German Finance Minister Christian Lindner commended the diligent efforts of the investigators involved in the operation.
“Every criminal must know that we will defend the security of our citizens and our businesses. We will defend it resolutely and vigorously,” he said.
