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Pan-European drug trafficking ring busted, hundreds arrested

24 December 2010 03:01 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Nearly 400 suspected heroin dealers linked to a huge trafficking ring allegedly controlling the entire heroin market in Vienna and Frankfurt had been arrested in an international joint operation, Austrian police said on Thursday, APA reports quoting Xinhua News Agency.

Franz Lang, chief of Austrian Federal Criminal Police Office, announced at a press conference that the organized criminal gang, dubbed the "Frankfurt Mafia", was based in Macedonia. After the arrest of its 29 key members in the country on Wednesday, the investigation into this criminal gang was basically completed.

Lang said the joint operation by relevant countries started many years ago and on the Austrian side it started in Nov. 2009. In Austria, 69 suspects from this drug trafficking ring were arrested and nearly 65 kilograms of drugs including heroin were seized.

The criminal investigation in Germany started in 2007. Some 300 suspects have been captured by German police and more than 170 kilograms of drugs were seized.

According to police, the ring had not only numerous members but also clear division of labor in activities, selling drugs to regular customers mostly. Two heads of the gang and some other key members living in Macedonia used cell phones to instigate drug dealers in Germany and Austria to complete drug trade.

The ring was also accused of violent crime, money laundering and other organized crimes.

Police said the ring was also suspected of participating in the illegal drug business in many other European countries. Two prime suspects and other three key members are on international wanted list.