The police dealt a major blow to the drug scene in the Tyrolean Unterland: the detectives arrested a highly professional, 16-member dealer gang selling tens of kilograms of cocaine and marijuana in the district of Kufstein. The methods of the masterminds are usually only known from movies.
Last spring, the police received numerous indications that a larger group in the Kufstein district was dealing in narcotics. Months of investigative work then began for the Tyrolean criminal police, which eventually resulted in success: the agents were able to track down 16 suspects, 13 of whom were arrested in November and December 2022. During the same period, the detectives also conducted 13 house searches. In addition to mobile phones and a car, they also seized 26 kilograms of marijuana. Street value: 260,000 euros!
The alleged perpetrators were interrogated and in some cases confessed. In the past two years, the group is said to have smuggled up to 32 kilograms of cocaine and 100 kilograms of marijuana into Austria and sold them mainly in the Kufstein district. According to Katja Tersch, head of the LKA Tyrol, the dealers acted very professionally: “You can certainly speak of a very well organized criminal gang.”
The gang even threatened families of debtors
The drug gang relied on a division of labor: some members were responsible for importing the drugs, hiring additional couriers and determining where the narcotics were stored. Others used the alleged main perpetrators to sell the “goods”. People have been selected for this task who are consumers themselves. They could have “worked off” debts they could have had with the dealers themselves. Investigators also found that one of the main suspects had made serious threats to his “debtors”: he would take action against them or even against their families if they stopped cooperating.
In addition, the members of the group are suspected of committing three burglaries in the Tyrolean lowlands, in which money, weapons, gold and jewelry with a total value of at least 50,000 euros were stolen from residential buildings.
Twelve people in custody, three on the run
The suspects are 16 men between the ages of 19 and 50, some with Austrian and some with Eastern European citizenship. Three of them could not be apprehended so far, they are wanted. However, the alleged main perpetrators were arrested and a total of 12 men were taken into custody. Only one was reported free.
Numerous customers of the group were also investigated. So far there are 20 people who have to expect a report to the prosecutor’s office.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
