Over 35 metric tons of cocaine seized: Authorities disclose specifics of substantial drug haul capture
Over 24.5 metric tons of cocaine, approximately 11 tons more in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and Rotterdam, Netherlands, were allegedly confiscated from sea shipping containers in Hamburg Port. Extra eleven tons were also found in Guayaquil and Rotterdam. The investigations were triggered by tips from Colombian authorities. Specialists from the Customs Office and the Criminal Investigation Office in Baden-Württemberg picked out nine containers and took them into custody.
Subsequent investigations pinpointed eight suspects aged 30-54 in Germany. Seven of them were arrested in late May and early June during widespread raids in various federal states and now are in remand prison. They are believed to have established numerous fake and mailbox companies to smuggle vast amounts of cocaine from South America.
The investigations were conducted by the Customs Criminal Office and Customs Investigation Office in Stuttgart, working together with the Criminal Investigation Office in Baden-Württemberg and a central office against organized crime located at the Prosecutor's Office in Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia. Among the suspects, according to investigators, are two entrepreneurs from Baden-Württemberg and North Rhine-Westphalia.
North Rhine-Westphalia's Justice Minister, Benjamin Limbach (Greens), stated during the presentation of the investigation results in Düsseldorf on Monday about a "major win" by German security agencies. The confiscation and destruction of such a large quantity of cocaine is a "strategic blow that weakens drug lords." These individuals made huge profits and threatened legitimate economic circles with their activities.
The authorities announced the seizure from the freight network on Friday, but only provided limited details. For more information, they referred to the press conference on Monday.
