Drug trade in Fehrbellin: perpetrator after judgment again at large!

Drug trade in Fehrbellin: perpetrator after judgment again at large!

Stefan W. from Fehrbellin was convicted of drug trade in an excitement of the court hearing at the Neuruppin district court. The case is part of a major discussion about the changing landscape of drug crime in Germany, which according to Statista continues to be a serious problem.

Stefan W. was the focus of investigations that began in the summer of 2024. During a search of his apartment on November 27, 2024, the officers found around 60 grams of cocaine, more than 16,000 euros in cash and two baseball bats, which were seen as potential weapons. The district court imposed a prison sentence of three years due to armed drug trade in a less difficult case. Contrary to the general expectation, W. was able to leave the courtroom as a free man, since the arrest warrant against requirements was set out of enforcement. He now has to report to the police twice a week, while the coverage of cash, as a profit from drug sales, was ordered. The presiding judge, Philipp Schumacher, made it clear that the baseball bats could not be viewed as sports equipment.

fate of drug trade

Drug crime remains an urgent problem in many German cities. In 2023, more than 347,000 cases of drug crime were registered nationwide, which represents an increase of 2 percent compared to the previous year. It is particularly striking that around 208,000 of these cases affect cannabis, which has been partially legal since April 2024. Nevertheless, drug trafficking, especially with hard drugs, remains a central topic in the criminal underground.

A tragic incident that illustrates the risk of drug trafficking occurred in November 2022 in Oranienburg, where a 24-year-old was sentenced to life in prison for murder on a drug dealer. The crime followed an argument when the perpetrators refused to pay for an ordered cocaine. Such acts of violence are not an isolated case and underline the brutal excesses with which drug trafficking can be connected, as well as the associated health and social problems.

Stefan W., who has been unemployed since 2017 and has lived from citizenship, is no exception in this dramatic story. In the past, he had occasional jobs, but his chronic rheumatic disease has made it difficult to return to the regular labor market. Drug policy, as it is currently developing, is not only a challenge from a legal point of view, but also from a social perspective.

The situation in society as a whole shows that both drug use and the resulting crime rates continue to increase. In 2023, the number of drug deaths reached around 2,230, an alarming sign for society and health policy. In some cities, such as Bremen, the number of drug deaths at almost 5 per 100,000 inhabitants is highest.

Despite sometimes positive developments in the legal framework, the question of the effective fight against drug trafficking and consumption remains. As Stefan W.’s case shows, it is necessary not only to take strict measures, but also to consider and tackle the background and social aspects of drug crime.