Trier: Trial of alleged heads of drug group
Seven people are facing trial after allegedly building an extensive cannabis network.
Trier: Trial of alleged heads of drug group
Proceedings have begun in the Rhineland-Palatinate city against seven people. The public prosecutor's office accuses them of building a large network for the cultivation and sale of cannabis. The hearing takes place before the competent court in Trier.
According to the indictment, the defendants operated a total of 19 secret growing sites across three different federal states. These included sites in the Eifel Volcanic region as well as in Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia. Some of the plantations are said to have housed several thousand plants. Electricity is said to have been illegally taken for the necessary technology such as lighting and ventilation.
The group was structured, according to investigators. Individual suspects are in family relationships with each other, whilst others are said to have been connected through friendship. The currently accused are described as the alleged organisers. In addition to cannabis, they are said to have sold cocaine.
The defence lodged an objection at the outset to the use of wiretapped telephone calls. They criticise the fact that not all investigators' data is available.
Three of the seven people already have relevant prior convictions. All are currently in custody. The proceedings could extend over more than 40 days and last until the end of the year. Seventeen legal representatives are involved.
In earlier trials, further participants have already been convicted, including a family that is said to have assisted the group with money laundering and served as a storage facility.
Source: SWR
Source: Google News DE — Crime (de)