Law enforcement officials apprehend a prominent individual linked to the Cologne explosions.
A key individual suspected of involvement in a series of explosions in Cologne and surrounding areas, as well as suspected drug trafficking, has been apprehended in Paris. The public prosecutor's office made this announcement. The 22-year-old was wanted internationally and was captured at Paris' Roissy airport on October 1st. Extradition proceedings have begun, and the authorities are in contact with their French counterparts. However, further information is not expected before mid-next week due to ongoing legal proceedings.
Investigators believe this 22-year-old to be a significant player in the suspected drug trafficking they think triggered the explosion series that has caused unrest in Cologne and various other locations in recent months. Several explosive devices have detonated in front of homes at night. The young man is said to have fled at the end of June, prompting the issuance of an arrest warrant.
It's all about marijuana
Investigators suspect that tensions between criminal organizations are behind the series of incidents. The theft of a large quantity of marijuana from a warehouse in Hürth is alleged to have set off the chain of events, leading to an escalation of violence. Two hostage-takings in the summer are also linked to this complex. A group that claims it was swindled out of the drugs is attempting to retrieve the marijuana or seek compensation, according to recent investigations. References to the Netherlands have also been made.
More than ten individuals are currently in custody, according to the public prosecutor's office. However, this individual apprehended in Paris is considered a particularly important figure. The investigation commission (EK) set up by the Cologne police bears the name "Sattla". In Arabic, "Sattla" means hashish.
The term "Mocro Mafia" continues to surface in relation to these incidents, but the police and public prosecutor's office do not use this term. "Mocro" is a derogatory term for Moroccans in the Netherlands. Some individuals with Moroccan roots are involved in drug trafficking in the Netherlands. Explosions in front of apartments, businesses, and operations are often used by the criminal underworld to intimidate rival organizations or debtors in the Netherlands.
This apprehended individual is believed to have played a significant role in the crime wave linked to the marijuana theft, which triggered a chain of explosions and hostage-takings in Cologne and surrounding areas. The ongoing investigation, dubbed "Sattla" by the Cologne police, aims to uncover the full extent of this complex criminal activity.
