German authorities, in collaboration with international partners, have apprehended another suspected member of a transnational criminal organization. The arrest, carried out on August 7th, is part of an extensive investigation into allegations of organized money laundering connected to drug trafficking and criminal association, as confirmed by the German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) on Monday.
The individual taken into custody is believed to have functioned as a financial administrator for the primary suspects operating in Spain. According to the current state of the investigation, he allegedly managed proceeds from illicit drug sales, coordinated financial transfers within the group and was directly involved in the import of at least 856 kilograms of marijuana into Germany in April 2024.
Over several years, the criminal group is suspected of systematically trafficking large quantities of cannabis and cocaine, laundering millions of euros in resulting profits. Investigators emphasize that the group demonstrated a “particularly high potential for violence” during the commission of their crimes, reportedly employing firearms and incendiary devices against rival criminals in public places, with a disregard for the safety of bystanders.
Last year, a joint financial investigation taskforce comprising the BKA and the Customs Criminal Office, along with national and international law enforcement and customs agencies, executed multiple arrests and seized substantial evidence both domestically and abroad, including firearms, ammunition and explosives. These operations mobilized over 300 personnel across Germany.
The Wiesbaden Public Prosecutor’s Office has now filed charges against the principal suspects currently in custody, to be heard at the Wiesbaden Regional Court. Several members of the organization were already convicted in December 2024 in a separate proceeding related to illegal drug import, receiving lengthy prison sentences. Investigations by the BKA/ZKA task force and the Wiesbaden Public Prosecutor’s Office remain ongoing.