Largest cannabis seizure in Austrian history: Vienna police secure around one ton in Liesing

In addition to the narcotics, cash, gold bars, a luxury Rolex-brand watch, and a firearm were also secured during the raid. According to the information provided, the majority of the 13 arrested individuals are so-called 'Gärtner' – that is, people who worked in the plantation.

Disguise as CBD production

The plantation was 'hochprofessionell eingerichtet', said Roudny. Martin Roudny, head of the Central-East branch of the State Criminal Police Office, described the scope of the operation together with State Police Vice President Dieter Csefan at the background briefing. Both emphasized that this represented an extraordinary investigative success for the Vienna police.

As Csefan explained, the investigations against the drug gang had already begun in 2024. Over the months, clues were gathered that ultimately led to the coordinated operation in the Liesing hall. The facility, disguised as CBD production, extended across the entire 3,200 square meters.

Reactions from the investigators

He spoke of an 'außergewöhnlichen Ermittlungserfolg' by the Vienna police. Csefan thanked the involved officers and underscored the significance of the investigation's success for the fight against organized drug crime in the federal capital. The 13 arrested individuals are in custody, and further investigations are ongoing.

The seizure marks a provisional high point in a series of major drug raids in Vienna in recent years. The police hope that the analysis of the seized evidence – including the firearm, the gold bars, and the Rolex watch – will yield further insights into the structure of the suspected network. The seized cash is also still being examined.

Outlook on further investigations

With the current seizure, the Vienna find significantly exceeds previous confiscations in Austria. The police view the seizure as confirmation that the organized structures in drug trafficking are professionally set up – and at the same time see it as a necessity to further intensify investigative work in this area.

The investigations against the arrested individuals and possible backers are ongoing. The Vienna police announced that, upon completion of the current measures, further details on the proceedings and the suspects will be released. (APA, 11.6.2026)