Drug runners have no shortage of excuses! During the initial interrogations, five Poles said they could not explain how 50 kilograms of cannabis ended up in their car – they were only on holiday together. The Klagenfurt trial was very different.
If the older gentleman in a jacket wasn’t wearing an “eight”, ie handcuffs, he would almost appear serious. The Pole has been behind bars for 19 years and a few more will be added on Tuesday. He and his four accomplices – all around 50 – are in the dock as professional drug couriers for the judge duo Sabine Götz and Manfred Herrnhofer in Klagenfurt. “It was organized with military precision,” prosecutor Daniela Zupanc said. “The suspect drove to Spain in three cars, took more than 50 kilos of cannabis with him and wanted to return to Poland via Austria. Drivers, cars and license plates were switched along the way to cover the tracks.”
Between five and eight years in prison
But what the couriers did not suspect: detectives had been on their trail for a long time. According to a tip from their Polish homeland, they were watched every meter of Austria – on the ground and even by helicopter from the air. The hash couriers were then caught and arrested on the southern Autobahn near Völkermarkt. During the first interrogations, some told of a “holiday trip” they wanted to take together. By the time the trial began, most of the gentlemen had changed their minds: two of them expressed remorse, one confessed but remained silent – probably fearing his bosses in Poland. And two could not refute their accomplices’ statements with anything debilitating. Therefore all five were convicted; the sentences are between five and eight years in prison and are not yet final.
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.
