The drug is 32 kilos of marijuana, twelve kilos of speed and 50 grams of cocaine with a total value of around half a million euros, as the Salzburg State Police Department announced on Tuesday. Three suspects are in custody. In addition, 60 drug buyers were reported.
Cannabis plantation in the basement
The accused, aged between 20 and 58, live in Pinzgau. There is a woman from Germany and 13 men – eleven of whom are Austrian, one man has Czech citizenship and another has German citizenship. According to the surveys, the dealers are said to have bought 15 kilos of marijuana in the Czech Republic and brought them to Pinzgau in a car. According to the police, they cultivated another part of the marijuana in a rented cellar with the appropriate equipment until it was ready to flower, and they obtained the speed in the Netherlands and smuggled it into the country.
14 house searches
Investigators carried out 14 house searches. Among other things, they seized more than two kilos of drugs, 90 pieces of flowering marijuana plants in five apartments, 83,000 euros in cash and prohibited weapons. The Zell am See district drug group has been carrying out the surveys with colleagues from the Salzburg State Criminal Police Office since March 2024. Other offenses such as forgery of specially protected documents, severe coercion, theft, damage to property, offenses under the Prohibition Act and falsification of evidence were clarified and reported.
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**Interview with Chief Inspector Anna Müller from the Salzburg State Police Department**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Chief Inspector Müller. Can you tell us about the recent drug bust that has garnered quite a bit of attention in Salzburg?
**Chief Inspector Müller:** Thank you for having me. Yes, we recently dismantled a significant drug operation in the Pinzgau region. Our investigation, which began in March 2024, led to the seizure of 32 kilos of marijuana, 12 kilos of speed, and 50 grams of cocaine, with a total estimated value of around half a million euros.
**Editor:** That’s a substantial amount. How many individuals are currently involved in this case?
**Chief Inspector Müller:** Currently, there are three suspects in custody. They range in age from 20 to 58 years. They include a woman from Germany and several men, most of whom are Austrian, with one Czech and one additional German citizen.
**Editor:** The police report indicates the involvement of a cannabis plantation. Can you elaborate on that?
**Chief Inspector Müller:** Certainly. Part of the marijuana was cultivated in a rented cellar that was equipped for such activities. Additionally, our investigations revealed that 15 kilos of marijuana were purchased in the Czech Republic and smuggled back into Austria using a vehicle.
**Editor:** What steps did the police take to bring this operation to light?
**Chief Inspector Müller:** Our drug investigation unit worked closely with the Salzburg State Criminal Police Office. We executed 14 house searches, which resulted in the seizure of over two kilos of additional drugs, about 90 flowering marijuana plants across five apartments, and 83,000 euros in cash. We also found prohibited weapons, indicating the seriousness of this operation.
**Editor:** Beyond drug-related offenses, are there other criminal activities connected to these suspects?
**Chief Inspector Müller:** Yes, our investigation uncovered a range of offenses, including forgery of protected documents, severe coercion, theft, damage to property, and other violations under the Prohibition Act. This highlights the extensive criminal network involved.
**Editor:** What are the next steps for your department in this investigation?
**Chief Inspector Müller:** We will continue to gather evidence and build our case against these individuals. Furthermore, we will pursue leads on the drug buyers who have also been reported — around 60 individuals are currently under investigation. Our goal is to disrupt and dismantle this operation completely.
**Editor:** Thank you for sharing these insights, Chief Inspector Müller. We appreciate the work your team is doing to combat drug trafficking in the region.
**Chief Inspector Müller:** Thank you for bringing attention to this important issue. It’s crucial for the public to be aware of the dangers associated with drug trafficking.
