Drug dealer after quick arrest: quick verdict in Dresden!

Drug dealer after quick arrest: quick verdict in Dresden!

A 23-year-old drug dealer from Libya and his illegal drug trade were recently brought to justice in a rapid trial in Dresden. On June 3, 2025 at 5:30 p.m., on Breslauer Straße, the man was arrested by the police. When he arrived, the officers found around two grams of cocaine and seven ecstasy tablets. They also secured 540 euros in cash that came from drug sales. In the evening of the same day, the police searched his mother's apartment in Meißen, where a further 1.4 grams of cocaine and three Ecstasy tablets were discovered. Within a very short time, the dealer was brought before the district court in Dresden and, in an accelerated procedure, received a prison sentence of one year, which was, however, suspended for two years because he had no previous conviction. This case shows how quickly the justice system can act in drug crime cases - a bright spot in an often sluggish system.

But not all drug criminal cases are resolved quickly. A particularly lengthy case that spanned several years is that of a cocaine-drug quartet in Neubrandenburg. This trial began in 2020 and did not end until 2024, with the four men receiving prison sentences of between two and a half and five years. However, the judgments are not yet final as appeals have been filed. This case was part of a larger investigation facilitated by the decryption of the “Encrochat data network” à la French specialists. This made it possible for the police to wiretap up to 30,000 users in around 100 countries and thus become aware of criminal structures.

The EncroChat hack and its consequences

The hack of crypto phone provider EncroChat four years ago was seen as a significant blow to organized crime, particularly in the drug trade. In Germany, this intervention led to over 1,700 arrests. Still, experts express concerns that this success has not led to a decline in drug trafficking. One drug dealer reported that the hack created a vacuum in the scene, leading to more violence and new actors. Hamburg's Interior Senator Andy Grote (SPD) confirmed that there are new distribution struggles within the criminal structures. Several tons of drugs were also seized in the port of Hamburg, an important entry point for cocaine, in 2024.

Although the arrests and drug discoveries show an active fight against drug trafficking, the reality is more complex. According to the European Union Drugs Agency, the price per kilogram of cocaine is falling while its purity is increasing. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser was still optimistic about the fight against organized crime in 2022, but crime statistics in Berlin recorded a peak in the use of firearms in 2023.

Organized crime in Germany

Organized crime in Germany represents a significant problem. In 2023, a total of 642 investigations were conducted on this topic, with around 41% of the proceedings (264) relating to drug trafficking and smuggling. The financial damage caused by cybercrime in the same year amounted to 1.7 billion euros, with drug crime being characterized primarily by the large number of suspects from different nationalities. German citizens predominate in drug trafficking crimes, followed by perpetrators from Albania and Turkey.

It is evident that there is constant change in the shadow economy. More and more smaller criminal groups seem to be emerging, which doesn't make combating them any easier. An illegal arms dealer reported a growing demand for weapons and the increasing threat posed by these new structures. Jan Reinecke, the state chairman of the Association of German Criminal Police Officers, expressed the opinion that the war against drug trafficking cannot be won and that an anti-mafia law is even being called for to punish criminals without proof of specific crimes.

Current events show that the challenge of organized crime is still very present in Germany. Despite short-term successes, we as a society must remain vigilant because drug trafficking not only impacts those affected, but also affects safety and life in our cities.

Further information on this topic can be found in the articles from Northern Courier, daily news and Statista.