German cops bust cocaine smuggling ring

The gang brought nearly five metric tons of cocaine to Germany in nine shipments from Brazil, Colombia, and several other countries. Those suspected of involvement include a former officer with East Germany’s Stasi secret police.

German cops have busted a cocaine smuggling ring transporting tons of drugs to Europe from South America. Investigators said they had arrested 14 suspects as part of the international operation. The drugs were often hidden in steel girders in ship deliveries and encased in lead to pass through X-ray security.

The investigation was triggered in Nov 2018 after cops seized a shipping container in Santos, Brazil, containing 690 kg of cocaine worth an estimated €140m. The shipment was addressed to a company in Berlin.