Drug ring dismantled in Styria – 15 suspects reported

Seizures and estimated turnover

Based on the seized substances, prices, and dealer information, the turnover achieved is estimated at around 1.3 million euros. The Public Prosecutor's Office Graz accuses the defendants of aggravated narcotics trafficking.

According to police, the accused are predominantly Austrian citizens, along with two Croatian and one Slovenian national. The men are, according to the information, aged 20 to 31 years.

Accused persons and origin

During the operation, numerous residential addresses in Vienna and in southern Styria were searched, according to the statement. In addition to units of the Styria Standby Unit and the Cobra tactical unit, specialized investigators from the State Criminal Intelligence Office were also involved.

The Public Prosecutor's Office Graz and the Regional Court for Criminal Matters Graz are currently preparing the indictments against the main suspects. The investigations into buyers and possible other accomplices are ongoing.

Further proceedings

In the investigators' assessment, the case illustrates the trend toward more professionally organized narcotics networks in Styria. The evaluation of the seized mobile phones and data carriers is still ongoing.

With the arrest of the 15 suspects and the seizures, the police consider the core of the ring in the Leibnitz–Deutschlandsberg region to have been dismantled. However, they did not rule out further operations.

The Public Prosecutor's Office Graz announced that, due to the scope of the proceedings, the main trial is expected to take place before a panel of lay judges at the Regional Court for Criminal Matters Graz. No specific date was given initially.