How the German police took action against cocaine pizza – Firstpost

A German pizzeria in Düsseldorf served much more than just baked bread with cheese.

According to police, the restaurant previously served pizzas with a side of cocaine. The dish was listed on the menu as “Pizza Number 40.”

After months of investigation, authorities were able to take tough action against an organized crime group.

According to the DPA news agency, around 150 police officers, including from elite units, carried out raids at 16 locations in nine cities last week, arrested three suspects and confiscated weapons caches.

The pizzeria under scanner

The police have been investigating the pizzeria since March, when the narcotics were discovered in the kitchen during a routine food inspection, as Criminal Director Michael Graf von Moltke announced on Monday.

When drug agents monitored the business, they discovered that Pizza No. 40 was popular with customers.

“It was one of the best-selling pizzas,” Von Moltkes said.

There was a package of cocaine under each cake. It wasn't immediately clear how much Number 40 cost or what toppings were included.

“This was new to us and surprised us because the owner had never been accused of drug offenses.”

The pizzeria's advertising slogan was “We deliver everything to your home.”

“Even if we knew, we wouldn’t release it,” said a police spokesman.

The 36-year-old restaurant owner, a Croatian, allegedly threw a bag full of cocaine out the window when police arrived to question him.

“It fell into the arms of the officers,” the police said.

In addition to 268,000 euros in cash, 400 grams of cannabis, 1.6 kilograms of cocaine and luxury watches, officers also seized a handgun, an ax and long-bladed knives that were allegedly part of the gang's arsenal.

The bigger raid

Two days later, authorities released the restaurant manager, who had no criminal record.

The restaurant's owner continued to sell the drug and pizza combination when he reopened his establishment.

Weeks later, investigators busted a drug network in West Germany after taking the opportunity to examine the drug supply chain all the way to the pizzeria.

Two cannabis plantations were searched by around 150 officers; 300 works were confiscated in Mönchengladbach, west of Düsseldorf, and 60 works were in Solingen, east of the city.

The homes and businesses of twelve suspects were also searched.

During the raids, police discovered expensive watches, cash and firearms.

The arrests

According to von Moltke, the authorities quickly discovered a “violent and ruthless” main suspect during their investigation.

One of the arrested suspects is a 22-year-old Russian-born mixed martial arts fighter who police knew was trafficking cocaine and large quantities of cannabis, violating recently liberalized drug laws .

He is suspected of frequently robbing and attacking rival merchants; One of them was apparently held captive for two nights before a significant amount of hashish was stolen from his home.

Two others were arrested: a 28-year-old Moroccan who was captured in Haan, near Düsseldorf, and a 30-year-old German who was said to be a trader from Cologne.

Twelve other people were considered suspects.

The pizza manager is still in custody after being arrested again in August while trying to flee the country.

The group allegedly grew their own marijuana in private homes, including one in Mönchengladbach with over 300 plants, and bought “kilos” of cannabis and cocaine to sell to other dealers, it is said The Guardian Prosecutor Laura Neumann quoted in it.

The apartment was occupied by the wife of one of the defendants and their three children who were adopted into foster care.

According to Neumann, the Russian national who immigrated to Germany as a teenager faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison for drug offenses and kidnapping.

The case was compared by German media to the 2001 cult comedy Lambbockwhere two pizzeria owners begin handing out pies containing cannabis hidden under the center slice of salami and wrapped in aluminum foil.

Cocaine in soft drink cans

A 24-year-old driver was arrested by Berlin police last week on charges of hiding cocaine shipments in soft drink cans.

Patrol officers noticed the man on Tuesday evening when they observed a possible drug deal on Wühlischstrasse (Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg district).

The police also confiscated a cell phone, a cigarette packet with 620 euros in cash and 20 additional Ecstasy tablets in a lint roller.

With input from agencies