35 Suspects Identified in Cologne Drug Gang Violence, 23 in Custody

A major cannabis theft triggered explosions, shootings, and a kidnapping in Cologne, with Dutch 'violence as a service' operatives implicated.

Cologne police have identified 35 suspects linked to a wave of violence following the theft of 300 kilograms of cannabis from a warehouse in Hürth.
Of the suspects, 19 are in pre-trial detention, four in extradition custody, and others remain under investigation.
The violence includes 11 explosions, shootings, and a kidnapping, with some incidents involving hired Dutch operatives through an online platform.
Police, in collaboration with Dutch authorities and Europol, executed arrests in Amsterdam and seized explosives during searches.
Authorities describe the phenomenon as 'violence as a service,' where hired perpetrators often remain unaware of their employers' identities.