Six men receive lengthy imprisonment terms due to drug trafficking convictions. - Lengthy incarceration terms issued to six individuals for drug smuggling offenses
In a significant case of transnational drug trafficking, six men have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from nine to twelve years by the Hamburg Regional Court. The drug involved in the trafficking was 1,000 kilograms of cocaine, a highly valuable and dangerous substance.
The cocaine was cleverly hidden in 21 out of 80 metal drums, with the rest containing balm resin, a less valuable product. The container, which originated from South America, specifically from Brazil, was stolen by the defendants from a terminal site in October 2022.
The defendants, who had purchased a tractor-trailer, a forklift, a round arch hall, and other equipment, aimed to establish themselves as a key player in the drug trade, aspiring to become "the gate to the harbor" and retrieve cocaine, not just for a one-time event.
After the cargo ship was unloaded, the container was initially secured by the authorities for investigation. However, that night, the defendants, using a tractor-trailer, drove the container off the site. Assets valued between 100,000 and 350,000 euros were confiscated from the defendants.
The main participants in this organized crime operation primarily originated from countries in North Africa (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia), Georgia, and Moldova. While other migrant groups linked to higher crime rates come from Kosovo, Somalia, Iraq, and Iran, the specific individuals convicted in this case mainly trace back to North African and Caucasus regions.
The indictment states that the cocaine was worth around 27,000 euros per kilogram. The defendants received about 1.2 million euros as payment for their work in the drug trafficking operation.
During the trial, some defendants downplayed their role in the gang, but the panel did not believe them. The court's verdict largely followed the demands of the public prosecutor's office, but it is not yet final.
The journey from Brazil to Hamburg took about three weeks by ship. The container, filled with the deadly substance, had narrowly avoided detection, but justice has now been served. The defendants will serve their prison terms as a reminder of the serious consequences of such criminal activities.
