German and Dutch police seize 2.5 tonnes of cocaine in coordinated bust

German federal prosecutors, customs investigators and the police in Hesse and North Rhine‑Westphalia, together with Dutch authorities, raided 27 residential and commercial premises in Germany and the Netherlands on 9 June. The operation uncovered about 2.5 tonnes of cocaine – valued at roughly €180 million on the street – that had been imported from Brazil and Colombia via air freight and container ships.

Three suspects were arrested at the time of the raids: a 59‑year‑old Dutch man, a 56‑year‑old Dutch man and a 53‑year‑old Turkish national. Two additional suspects – a 57‑year‑old German‑Turkish man and a 26‑year‑old Bulgarian – were already in detention on related charges. The ring is alleged to have used existing companies in Braunschweig, Isernhagen, Karben and Dreieich as front organisations, installing straw‑man directors to conceal the drug shipments. The seized cocaine was found in locations including Luxembourg, Hamburg and other points of entry.

German prosecutors have filed extradition requests for the Dutch detainees, and all arrested individuals will appear before a detention judge. The investigation, which began in February 2025, targets around 20 alleged members of the trans‑European smuggling network.