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Twelve people were arrested on Tuesday morning in thirteen simultaneous searches in Vorarlberg, neighboring Switzerland and Styria. They are suspected of having trafficked approximately 100 kilos of cocaine and half a ton of cannabis.
Police in Austria announced on Tuesday that drugs and firearms, among other things, were seized during the searches. The police action, which involved more than 180 officers, was preceded by years of investigation.
Suspected drug dealers belong to a rock group
Eleven Austrian and one Croatian nationals between the ages of 26 and 66 were arrested. According to the police, two of them are leading members of a rock group from Vorarlberg. They were all arrested on the basis of European arrest warrants from the public prosecutor’s offices of Feldkirch and Leoben. They are accused of trafficking drugs on a large scale in recent years.
The suspects are said to have obtained the cocaine mainly in the Netherlands and Belgium and sold it in Austria, Germany and Switzerland. Cannabis was imported from Spain, but also grown on our own plantations in Switzerland and Austria. The researchers tracked down the suspects through an international evaluation of so-called crypto-messenger services.
Three people arrested in Switzerland
During house searches, narcotics, firearms and ammunition, large amounts of cash, various high-value vehicles as well as data carriers and documents were seized. The eight people arrested in Vorarlberg are taken to Feldkirch prison on the orders of the public prosecutor.
Extradition requests have been sent to Switzerland for three Austrians arrested in Switzerland. A suspect was arrested in Styria. According to the police, further investigation by the Bregenz State Police will take months. (SDA)
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
