Hirtenberg prison inmate appears in court: drug dealing via Signal from cell
A 27-year-old is alleged to have run a drug ring from his prison cell in Hirtenberg. The trial began on Monday at the Vienna Regional Court.
Drug ring from a cell: Hirtenberg prison inmate before Vienna court
The trial of an inmate at Hirtenberg prison began on Monday at the Vienna Regional Court. According to the Kleine Zeitung, the 27-year-old is alleged to have coordinated drug operations from his cell and managed at least three dealers for a larger criminal organisation — whose masterminds are suspected to be based in Serbia.
Communication with his subordinates took place exclusively via the encrypted messaging service Signal. Under the alias "Ralph Lauren", the defendant allegedly instructed his employees to deliver cannabis herb and cocaine — in some cases in kilogramme quantities — to several customers. Furthermore, according to the indictment, he issued precise instructions on how to proceed with the proceeds from the drug sales.
The network's downfall ultimately came from an undercover officer of the Federal Criminal Police Office. The officer had received information about the activities through a registered confidential informant and subsequently made contact with the inmate via Signal himself. He expressed interest in two kilogrammes of cocaine. On 2 March 2026, an alleged employee of the 27-year-old appeared at the agreed meeting point in Vienna-Favoriten and handed the officer one kilogramme of cocaine — in exchange for payment of 18,500 euros.
The man was arrested immediately. In his apartment, the authorities seized a further 1.15 kilogrammes of cocaine. In the course of the further investigation, two other employees of the inmate were identified and likewise arrested. All four now stand trial together before a jury court.
When the inmate learned of the arrests of his alleged associates, he attempted to dispose of his mobile telephone in the toilet in his cell. The attempt failed: during the subsequent cell inspection, "Ralph Lauren" was found at the toilet with a bleeding wound to his hand, according to the indictment.
Source: Kleine Zeitung