Drug smuggling in the port: two men have to go to prison for years!

Drug smuggling in the port: two men have to go to prison for years!

In a high-profile case of drug-related crime, the Rostock regional court sentenced two men on a ferry from Denmark to prison terms. The federal police picked up the suspects in November 2024 in the seaport of Rostock, where they docked with two kilograms of cocaine in their luggage. This substance is known for its high addictive potential and was described by the presiding judge as a significant amount. The 28-year-old main perpetrator, who was also traveling with a fake passport, received a draconian sentence of four years in prison. His 24-year-old accomplice was sentenced to two years in prison for assisting in the importation of the drugs. Both men essentially confessed to their crimes and are expected to appeal because the verdict is not yet legally binding, as NDR reports.

But how did this arrest come about? The men traveled from Spain to Denmark in November last year to get the cocaine there. When they returned to Rostock, discrepancies in their papers caused the inspectors to be suspicious, which ultimately led to the discovery of the drug. This incident is not just an isolated case, but is an example of the increasing drug crime in Germany.

Drug crime on the rise

The statistics speak volumes: In 2023, around 347,000 cases of drug or drug-related crime were recorded by the police in Germany. This corresponds to an increase of 2 percent compared to the previous year. While cannabis, partially legalized since April 2024, remains the most common substance, the trade in hard drugs such as cocaine is increasingly coming into the spotlight. Last year around 55,500 drug trafficking offenses were registered. Around 45,300 suspects were identified in the area of ​​drug trafficking, with around 58.2 percent of these people being of German nationality, as Statista notes.

The number of unreported cases should not be underestimated. Many drug deaths often result from the long-term health effects of their use, and the number of around 2,230 drug deaths in 2023 shows the urgency with which this problem must be addressed. In Bremen, for example, the number was at the top with just under 5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. This makes it all the more important to make people aware of the dangers of drugs through preventative measures and educational work.

The current verdicts in Rostock not only shed light on the individual responsibility of the perpetrators, but also shed light on a far-reaching social problem. Drug-related crime remains an issue that affects us all and should receive greater public attention. It is to be hoped that further arrests like these by the authorities can help to effectively combat the illegal drug trade.

The developments surrounding this case and drug crime as a whole remain exciting and will certainly continue to concern our society in the future. Whether through further legal measures, social education or more intensive exchange between the various security authorities - the fight against drug crime is an issue, something is important.

Further information on this topic can be found in the reports from Stern and Statista.