Lieferando? Police catch cheeky drug dealers

Vöcklabruck (Austria) - A huge success for the police in Upper Austria! Four drug dealers (20, 21, 30, 32) were caught together with their arsenal of weapons, counterfeit money and plantations. A total of 21 other people were reported who are believed to be connected to the four dealers.

Apparently the drugs were sold from a Lieferando backpack.
Apparently the drugs were sold from a Lieferando backpack.  © Landespolizeidirektion Oberösterreich

In retrospect, the four dealers were not really clever. Although they had a Lieferando rucksack with which drugs, weapons and other items could be transported inconspicuously, that was about it.

As the police in Austria have now announced, several tips have been received from the public since January that drugs were being dealt near a church in Attnang-Puchheim.

"Almost every day", the 30 and 32-year-old brothers were there in their cars selling crystal meth and cannabis, as initial investigations by the officers revealed.

When coordinated action was taken on March 10, the older of the two men, who receives unemployment benefits but also works as a pizza delivery driver without a license, was observed. Police officers stopped him and his car at around 5 a.m. and wanted to start a check. But when one of the officers opened the passenger door, the dealer sped off. The police officer was left slightly injured.

The 32-year-old Austrian fled from the police for a short time at "far too high a speed". In a bend, however, he left the road due to the rainy weather, skidded right into an embankment, was thrown back and finally came to a halt on the road with a broken axle. He then fled on foot, hiding in some bushes. However, a police dog found the man.

The driver involved in the accident, who was found to be on drugs, had crystal meth, cannabis, a large amount of cash, counterfeit money and a veritable arsenal of prohibited weapons, axes, knives and a baseball bat with him, according to the police.

30-year-old brother poses with drug plantation - arrest!

The 32-year-old had an enormous number of weapons and some National Socialist memorabilia in his apartment.
The 32-year-old had an enormous number of weapons and some National Socialist memorabilia in his apartment.  © Landespolizeidirektion Oberösterreich

The public prosecutor's office then ordered a search of the 32-year-old's home.

A crystal meth depot, large quantities of herbal cannabis, a number of National Socialist memorabilia, several alarm guns, prohibited weapons and a coin collection were discovered.

Only a short time later, a search warrant was issued for the 30-year-old brother's apartment. The Austrian did not want to open the door. But the officers were stronger and forced their way in.

The search for drugs did not take long. The young man was storing "considerable quantities of herbal cannabis", some of it already packaged ready for sale, and had a dismantled cannabis plantation standing around.

Investigators found videos on his cell phone in which he posed with "large quantities of narcotics, his cannabis plantation and thousands of euros in cash".

This "incriminates him heavily". Like his brother, he was arrested immediately.

Backers tracked down, a total of 25 people charged

The officers confiscated a total of several kilograms of crystal meth and herbal cannabis.
The officers confiscated a total of several kilograms of crystal meth and herbal cannabis.  © Landespolizeidirektion Oberösterreich

A short time later, the officers identified two people behind the crime within a single day, according to the press release.

One of them was a 21-year-old Syrian man who was imprisoned until the end of 2020. He apparently ordered large quantities of the drugs from Turkey to Austria by parcel delivery service. "The narcotics were hidden in various children's toys, such as dolls, stuffed animals, building block packs, etc.," said the police.

The 21-year-old had the drug packages sent to various addresses of people with no criminal record. This is how the officers tracked down the 20-year-old cousin (also Syrian). When the investigators searched his apartment, they found 6500 euros in counterfeit money.

The police continued: "This explained the increased occurrence of counterfeit 20 euro and 50 euro bills in the Vöcklabruck district from October 2020."

During the arrest of the 21-year-old, another Syrian (30) was found. He was in the country illegally and was therefore arrested immediately.

Investigations into the Turkish suppliers are already in full swing. The same applies to the "large number of buyers". A total of 25 people have already been charged in this matter.

Dealer in custody, long list of charges

These 6500 euros are counterfeit money that the 21-year-old had with him.
These 6500 euros are counterfeit money that the 21-year-old had with him.  © Landespolizeidirektion Oberösterreich

The four dealers are now facing charges of commercial drug smuggling and trafficking, illegal possession of weapons, importing and passing on counterfeit money, resisting law enforcement, multiple thefts, driving without a license and under the influence of drugs, as well as countless other offences. They are already in custody.

The officers seized around half a kilogram of crystal meth and around 2.5 kilos of herbal cannabisfrom the men.