Drug trafficking from Hirtenberg prison: inmate and three accomplices face court
A 27-year-old is alleged to have organised cocaine and cannabis deals from Hirtenberg prison. An undercover investigator brought him down.
Cocaine handover in Vienna-Favoriten leads to arrests
According to vol.at, a 27-year-old inmate at Hirtenberg prison is said to have run a drug trade from his cell under the alias "Ralph Lauren". His subordinates offered multiple buyers kilogrammes of cannabis and cocaine – and received precise instructions on how to use the proceeds from the deals.
The investigators became aware of the organisation through a tip from a registered confidential informant. An undercover investigator from the Federal Criminal Police then made contact with the inmate via Signal and expressed interest in two kilograms of cocaine.
On 2 March 2026, the officer arrived at the agreed meeting point in Vienna-Favoriten. There, an alleged employee of the 27-year-old handed him one kilogram of cocaine after 18,500 euros changed hands. The man was arrested on the spot. In his flat, the authorities secured a further 1.15 kilos of cocaine.
During the course of further investigations, two additional alleged employees of the inmate were identified and likewise arrested. All three must now answer to a magistrate's bench together with the 27-year-old.
After the arrest of his alleged accomplices, "Ralph Lauren" is said according to the charges to have attempted to dispose of his mobile phone in the prison toilet. The attempt failed: during the subsequent cell search, he was reportedly "found in the toilet with a bleeding hand wound".
Source: Google News AT — Crime (de)