Or a simple fine.
Roughly speaking, it can be the difference between whether a pair of parents from Aars are right in that they only thought they were helping their son transport illegal mobile phones from the Netherlands to Denmark, or whether they knew they were hard drugs.
Three of the couple’s eight sons have been sentenced to long prison terms in the case, and now the 56-year-old woman and the 62-year-old man are indicted for their role in the extensive importation and trafficking of drugs.
They both plead not guilty, and explained on Wednesday at the Court in Aalborg that they believed their 25-year-old son picked up mobile phones in the Netherlands, where they both admitted to having been on different trips.
Secret compartments in the cars
But they had no idea that they were actually transporting kilos of cocaine across the border. At least that is their claim.
– I have been with him (the 25-year-old son, ed.) in Holland two or three times, said the 62-year-old man, but he did not remember much of the details.
– I have been locked up 23 hours a day for 13 months, you become completely… I don’t remember that, he said and shook his head, referring to his detention.
In court, it emerged that secret compartments had been made in several of the family’s cars.
– He said well enough that he had a room to put those boxes in for those mobile phones, said the father.
– It was probably not completely legal, but he said that it would just end in a fine if we were caught with them, he explained about the trips to the Netherlands to pick up the goods that turned out to be cocaine.
Pancakes and apple slices, cocaine and amphetamines
During the questioning of his wife, an audio recording of a telephone conversation between the couple was played. Here they talked about pieces.
A piece is slang for a kilo of cocaine.
– He was talking about those boxes, which I assumed were the kind of boxes that a mobile phone comes in, explained the 62-year-old man.
At the same time, he also maintained that he had no idea that drugs were stored at his home in the detached house in Aars.
Cocaine was found in a cupboard with Christmas decorations and amphetamine in a freezer in the garage, and the man allegedly never opened the freezer.
– It was cooking, it wasn’t so much me. Only if it was pancakes or apple slices, he said.
Sons could come and go
According to the man, the drugs belonged to the 25-year-old son, but they had not given him permission to store them there.
– Not at all. Not at all, not at all. We had a key box, so the boys could come and go as they pleased.
The man’s defender subsequently asked whether he would have taken them to the Netherlands if he had known that they were going to pick up drugs?
– No, not at all. There is nothing I detest more than something like this, said the 62-year-old.
Following the explanations of the parents and a few police assistants, the 25-year-old son, who has been sentenced to 12 years in prison in the case, was called as a witness.
He also didn’t think that his mother and father were aware of what he was really dealing with.
At first he claimed that his mother and 14-year-old younger brother had only been there when they were arrested at the border with 11 kilos of cocaine – and thus not on another trip earlier this year. But after a number of questions from the prosecutor, he suddenly remembered differently.
– Then I ask again. Were your mother and little brother on that trip, said prosecutor Kim Kristensen.
– Yes, answered the convicted drug dealer.
– Why?
– They were there as an alibi. There is nothing suspicious about having an elderly woman and then my little brother in the car, they are not exactly what you think of as drug dealers. So it was solely for that reason, he explained.
Professionals know what “checks” are
That was not the only point where memory failed. It was also unclear whether he himself believed that he had taken his father with him on one of the Dutch shopping trips, and whether he had called the phones he claimed to be shopping with to his parents “pieces”.
– Did you use any slang terms for the phones, asked the prosecutor.
– No, I don’t think so.
– Piece or pieces. Are they phones?
Yes, it is too, it sounded.
– But before you said it was cocaine?
– Yes, it is, too, if you ask a professional, but my parents don’t know what checkers are, he thought.
14-year-old was looking for drugs
During the witness questioning of the son, the prosecutor played a phone tap where he calls his girlfriend home from the Netherlands.
– This is the last time I take my mother on such a trip here. It’s a fucking burden to have her with you. She only does it for the money. It is completely different to have father with him, he said.
After that, another phone conversation could be heard in court. This time when the 25-year-old calls his 14-year-old younger brother and gets him to leave packages of cocaine in the parents’ utility room.
– Why did you have drugs at home with your parents and your brother, asked the prosecutor.
– If I was arrested and they searched me, they wouldn’t find anything, was the honest answer.
– Is it your impression that your parents knew that you felt at home with them?
– No.
After the son’s testimony, Wednesday’s hearing ended at the Court in Aalborg. The next day in the case is December 9, while a verdict is expected on December 10.
2024-11-13 19:33:00
#Drug #dealer #mother #money
**Interview with Legal Expert, Dr. Lars Mikkelsen, Regarding the Aars Drug Trafficking Case**
**Editor:** Today, we have Dr. Lars Mikkelsen, a legal expert specializing in drug trafficking laws, to provide insights on the ongoing case involving a couple in Aars who are facing serious charges related to the importation of drugs. Welcome, Dr. Mikkelsen.
**Dr. Mikkelsen:** Thank you for having me.
**Editor:** This case has gained significant media attention as the parents assert they were unaware of their son’s activities. How typical is it for parents to find themselves in such situations?
**Dr. Mikkelsen:** Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon. Families can often be drawn into criminal activities through manipulation or coercion, especially from their own children. In this case, the parents claim they thought they were helping their son transport mobile phones, which may indicate a lack of awareness or denial about the gravity of his actions.
**Editor:** The use of secret compartments in their cars suggests a level of planning. Does this play into their defense?
**Dr. Mikkelsen:** Yes, it certainly complicates things. The presence of secret compartments indicates intent, which undermines the parents’ claims of ignorance. The court will scrutinize their knowledge about these compartments and their overall involvement in the trips to the Netherlands.
**Editor:** The couple stated that they believed they could only receive a fine if caught. How does this reflect on their understanding of drug laws?
**Dr. Mikkelsen:** This statement reveals a potentially misguided understanding of drug trafficking laws. Transporting illegal substances, especially in large quantities like kilos of cocaine, can lead to severe penalties, far beyond just a fine. It reflects a serious lack of awareness regarding the legal risks involved in their actions.
**Editor:** During the trial, the couple’s son claimed he brought his family along as an ‘alibi.’ What does this imply about family dynamics in criminal cases like this?
**Dr. Mikkelsen:** It suggests a concerning exploitation of familial bonds. Utilizing family members as alibis can be a strategic approach in drug trafficking, attempting to create a façade of innocence. This reflects both manipulative behavior by the son and a potential vulnerability on the part of the parents.
**Editor:** There was also mention of the parents not having given their son permission to store drugs at their home. How does this play into their legal defense?
**Dr. Mikkelsen:** Their defense hinges on demonstrating a lack of knowledge about the drugs in their home. If they can convincingly argue that they had no idea their son was using their property for illegal activities, it might mitigate their charges. However, the discovery of drugs in their household presents a significant challenge to that claim.
**Editor:** what do you see as the likely outcomes of this case?
**Dr. Mikkelsen:** The outcome will largely depend on the evidence presented and the credibility of the testimonies. Given the family’s connections to the drug trade through their son, they may face severe penalties if established that they knowingly participated in the trafficking. However, if they manage to convince the court of their ignorance, they might receive lighter sentences.
**Editor:** Thank you, Dr. Mikkelsen, for shedding light on this complex case. It will be interesting to see how it unfolds in court.
**Dr. Mikkelsen:** Thank you for having me. I look forward to its resolution as well.
