Vienna police dismantle cocaine network – over 30 kg seized, six arrests
The Vienna State Criminal Police Office has seized more than 30 kg of cocaine – the largest haul by the agency in ten years, according to meinbezirk.at.
Largest cocaine seizure by Vienna police in ten years: six arrests, €3.5 million street value
The Vienna State Criminal Police Office has uncovered a cross-border drug trafficking network and seized a total of more than 30 kilogrammes of cocaine, according to meinbezirk.at. According to the authorities, this is the largest cocaine seizure by the agency in the past ten years.
The investigation began at the end of October 2025 with a venue in Vienna's Steinbauergasse in the Meidling district. There was suspicion of cocaine trafficking and possible weapons smuggling. In the course of the investigations, officers discovered a network that allegedly coordinated drug trafficking from Vienna.
Route from Valencia via Genoa to Vienna
The first operation took place in January 2026. Police had received information about a larger shipment that was reportedly intended for the 43-year-old main suspect. The cocaine was concealed in a vehicle which investigators stopped at the border in Spielfeld. An initial search was unsuccessful; only a forensic examination revealed the hiding place: approximately ten kilogrammes of cocaine lay under the back seat, smuggled along the Valencia–Genoa–Vienna route.
Shortly after taking possession of the shipment, the main suspect was arrested red-handed during the handover of approximately 600 grammes of cocaine to alleged subdealers.
Death threat forced early intervention
The investigation was supposed to continue in order to identify further masterminds. However, an alleged death threat forced police to intervene earlier than planned. A 38-year-old, who is said to have acted as a subdealer for the network, had reportedly threatened his ex-wife with death. He had already been subject to several restraining orders.
When he was arrested, officers found not only drugs in his vehicle but also a disabled person's pass, a stolen number plate, and a loaded handgun. According to an investigating officer, there was concern that the situation could end in femicide.
Garage in Liesing as storage for main suspect
During a house search at a garage in Vienna's Liesing district, where the 43-year-old main suspect had set up operations, officers seized the remaining cocaine as well as approximately 27 grammes of cannabis resin.
By the end of March 2026, the following was seized in total: 30.156 kilogrammes of cocaine with an estimated street sale value of approximately €3.5 million, 27.457 kilogrammes of cannabis resin, 435.6 grammes of marijuana, €16,850 in cash, and a vehicle with a smuggling compartment.
Six arrests, first convictions
A total of five people were arrested in connection with drug trafficking: the main suspect, three alleged subdealers, and a supplier. A sixth arrest was made on suspicion of dangerous threat – including one in Düsseldorf, as Major Christoph Hackl and two other investigators from the Vienna State Criminal Police Office explained at a background briefing on Monday morning.
First sentences have already been handed down: to date, unconditional prison sentences totalling 17 years and two months have been imposed.
Source: Google News AT — Crime (de)