Cocaine find in banana boxes: Police searched Berlin supermarkets

Cocaine find in banana boxes: Police searched Berlin supermarkets

A normal Monday evening became the scene of a surprising drug find for the employees of a Berlin supermarket. In several shops in Berlin and Brandenburg, the police discovered alleged cocaine that was cleverly hidden in banana boxes. This case has again drawn attention to the ongoing drug trafficking in the region.

The first find was made in a branch in Berlin on Monday evening. As a result, searches in several Berlin districts and four Brandenburg counties-Potsdam-Mittelmark, Oberhavel, Ostprignitz-Ruppin and Prignitz-were immediately arranged. In these action-packed night shifts, the investigators were able to ensure more than 200 kilograms of cocaine, which is a strong blow to drug crime. The exact amount still has to be officially confirmed, but an alarming picture is already emerging. rbb24 leaves no doubt that the drug trade in this region remains active.

faster measures and major challenges

The investigation runs under the direction of the Investigation Group Ruglas of the State Criminal Police Office in Brandenburg and the Berlin-Brandenburg customs investigation office. This collaboration is crucial to combat the roots of drug trafficking. In the past, large quantities of cocaine have already been ensured in the region, including in April 2024, when 223 kilograms of cocaine were discovered in banana boxes in ten Lidl branches. These drugs had an estimated value of up to 15 million euros and were destroyed the next day. This constant meeting with drugs in retail shows how sophisticated the networks operate and that they are willing to continue their illegal business despite the risks.

What makes drug mafia do to enter into such risky business? Combating internationally organized drug crime is a complex challenge that is prioritized by the Federal Criminal Police (bka). The groups of perpetrators use illegal profits from the drug trade, which not only leads to criminal offenses against the Narcotics Act, but also does not stop at the variety of violent attacks.

A look into the future

The investigators are faced with the demanding task of uncovering the background and trade routes. The drugs are usually smuggled in large quantities from South and Central America, hidden in containers that often arrive in ports such as Antwerp and Rotterdam and are distributed from there over the European market. Despite intensive efforts by the authorities, the pressure, which is exercised on the market by drug deliveries - especially by cocaine - is enormously high. We can be excited to see whether the investigation will bear fruit and what other dark sides this flourishing but dangerous market will still reveal.

With the support of various investigative authorities, hope is made that such macabre finds, as they have come to light in Berlin and Brandenburg, will become less common in the future and that internal security in Germany will be strengthened.