 "Police have been investigating the pizzeria since March, when a routine food inspection discovered the narcotic in the kitchen. Representational Image/Reuters")
A German pizzeria in Düsseldorf was serving far more than just baked bread with cheese.
According to the police, the restaurant used to serve pizzas with a side dish of cocaine. The dish was listed on the menu as “pizza number 40.”
After months of investigations, authorities were able to crack down on an organised crime group.
According to the news agency DPA, some 150 cops, including those from elite units, conducted raids on 16 locations in nine cities last week, arrested three suspects, and confiscated weapon caches.
The pizzeria under scanner
Police have been investigating the pizzeria since March, when a routine food inspection discovered the narcotic in the kitchen, according to Criminal Director Michael Graf von Moltke’s statement on Monday.
When narcotics investigators placed the business under surveillance, they discovered that Pizza No. 40 was a popular among the patrons.
“It was one of the most-sold pizzas,” Von Moltkesaid.
Each pie had a cocaine packet underneath it. It was not immediately clear how much Number 40 cost or what toppings were included.
“That was new to us and surprised us because the owner had never been accused of drug crimes.”
The pizzeria’s advertising slogan was “We deliver everything home to you.”
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“Even if we knew, we wouldn’t release it,” a police spokesperson said.
The 36-year-old restaurant owner, who is Croatian, allegedly threw a bag full of cocaine out the window when police arrived to question him.
“It fell into the arms of the officers,” police said.
In addition to 268,000 euros in cash, 400 grammes of cannabis, 1.6 kilogrammes of cocaine, and luxury watches, officers also seized a handgun, an axe, and long-bladed knives that were allegedly part of the gang’s arsenal.
The bigger crackdown
Two days later, authorities released the restaurant manager, who had no prior criminal history.
The owner of the restaurant kept selling the drug and pizza combo when he reopened his eatery.
Weeks later, investigators busted a drug network in western Germany after taking advantage of the chance to investigate the drug supply chain to the pizzeria.
Two cannabis plantations were raided by about 150 officers; 300 plants were seized in Mönchengladbach, west of Düsseldorf, and 60 plants were located in Solingen, east of the city.
Twelve suspects’ residences and places of business were also searched.
During the raids, police discovered costly watches, cash, and firearms.
The arrests
Authorities swiftly discovered a “violent and unscrupulous” prime suspect during their investigation, according to Von Moltke.
One of the suspects arrested is identified as a 22-year-old mixed martial arts fighter who was born in Russia and whom police knew was dealing cocaine and large amounts of cannabis in violation of recently liberalised drug laws.
He is suspected of robbing and assaulting rival dealers frequently; one of them was apparently held captive for two nights before a significant quantity of hashish was taken from his house.
Two more were arrested: a 28-year-old Moroccan who was captured in Haan, close to Düsseldorf, and a 30-year-old German who was allegedly a dealer from Cologne.
Twelve more people were deemed suspects.
The pizza manager is still in custody after being arrested again in August while attempting to flee the country.
The group allegedly grew its own marijuana in private apartments, including one in Mönchengladbach with over 300 plants, and purchased “kilos” of cannabis and cocaine to sell to other dealers, according to The Guardian which quoted Prosecutor Laura Neumann.
The residence was occupied by the spouse of one of the accused and their three foster-care-adopted children.
According to Neumann, the Russian national, who immigrated to Germany as a teenager, faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in jail for drug offences and kidnapping.
The case was compared by German media to the 2001 cult comedy Lammbock, in which two pizzeria owners begin distributing pies containing cannabis concealed beneath the middle salami slice and wrapped in aluminium foil.
Cocaine in soft drink cans
A 24-year-old driver was arrested by Berlin police last week on allegations of concealing cocaine deliveries in soft drink cans.
Officers on patrol noticed the man Tuesday night when they were observing a potential drug deal on Wühlischstrasse (Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg region).
The police also confiscated a mobile phone, a cigarette package containing 620 euros in cash, and 20 additional ecstasy tablets in a lint roller.
With inputs from agencies