A lucrative but illegal business idea put a restaurant operator in Düsseldorf behind bars: anyone who ordered No. 40 from him also received a pinch of cocaine as a side dish with the meal. “It was one of the best-selling pizzas,” one researcher explained.
No. 40 was quite common on the menu, but customers of the special pizza probably ordered it because of the side dish: it came with “a packaged portion of cocaine,” as the director reported on Facebook. Police became aware of this business model and uncovered many other crimes during the course of the investigation.
Drug pizzeria was under surveillance
Officials discovered what the special pizza was during a food inspection in March. The beam was then observed by drug researchers. Not only did they discover that No. 40 was very popular – and that the 36-year-old restaurateur was involved in many more drug deals.
The message from the Düsseldorf police on Facebook.
Restaurateur threw drug bag into the arms of police officers
When police officers knocked on the restaurant owner’s door, he threw more evidence at his feet, authorities said. The 36-year-old actually wanted to get rid of a bag full of drugs and threw it out the window. “She fell straight into the arms of the police officers,” is how the police and the public prosecutor’s office describe the bizarre situation, according to the magazine “Spiegel”. 1.6 kilos of cocaine, 400 grams of cannabis and 268,000 euros in cash were seized.
Brutal drug gang arrested
The restaurateur was released and just two days later the pizzeria was open again: Bestseller no. 40 was also sold again. The investigators then also decided to locate the restaurant operator’s suppliers. They encountered a 22-year-old martial artist known to police. The Russian is said to have traded kilos of cocaine and marijuana. Drug investigators learned that he had assaulted and robbed another drug dealer.
The 22-year-old as well as a 30-year-old and a 28-year-old companion were eventually arrested. In addition to drugs, weapons, cash and luxury watches were also seized in several cities. Two cannabis plantations were looted. After the 36-year-old cocaine pizza restaurateur tried in vain to escape abroad, he was also arrested.
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.
