Drug ring in Braunau district dismantled – children rescued, child pornography suspected
Police dismantled a drug ring in the Braunau district, arrested six suspects and rescued several children from affected residential premises.
Raid in Braunau: cannabis plantation, weapons and child pornography suspected
Google News AT — Crime (de) reports on a major raid in the Upper Austrian Braunau district, in which police dismantled a drug ring. The investigation led to the arrest of six suspects, the seizure of a professional cannabis plantation and several child removals.
The starting point was a tip from Germany that was received by the Ried im Innkreis Public Prosecutor's Office in March. In early April, investigators searched a residential property in the Braunau district. There they found a 44-year-old main suspect, his 37-year-old partner and their two children aged seven and 14. The children were taken into care together with child and youth welfare services. Child removals were also necessary at other suspects' residences in the neighbourhood due to acute endangerment from drug dealing.
During the search, officers seized a professional cannabis plantation, weapons and approximately 1.6 kilograms of marijuana, one kilogramme of amphetamine and larger quantities of ecstasy tablets. Over recent months, the accused couple is said to have sold a total of at least 18 kilograms of marijuana and other narcotics.
In one of the searched premises, investigators discovered a room set up for pornographic recordings. Evidence indicates that child pornographic material involving children from the main suspect's former partner was produced there. Four alleged victims of sexual offences have been identified so far.
Further investigations uncovered a larger supplier network: four additional persons are accused of bringing drugs into the house for further processing. In addition to drug money, extensive digital evidence was seized.
The main suspect couple have already been sentenced to multi-year prison sentences for the drug offences. All suspects admitted guilt to the drug charges. The presumption of innocence applies.
Source: Google News AT — Crime (de)