Eight Stand Trial in Düsseldorf for Mafia-Linked Cocaine Smuggling Operation

Prosecutors allege the group coordinated the transport of nearly 900 kilograms of cocaine across Europe for the 'Ndrangheta mafia over 15 years.

The trial involves five men and three women, aged 36 to 64, accused of drug trafficking and forming a criminal organization in service of the Italian 'Ndrangheta mafia.
The group allegedly smuggled nearly 900 kilograms of cocaine using specially modified vehicles, transporting the drugs between Germany, Italy, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
The main defendant, a 64-year-old man from Hattingen, is accused of organizing over 50 smuggling trips and earning €2.2 million from the operation.
The charges are based on years of investigations and a major 2023 police raid involving over 1,000 officers across Europe, resulting in the seizure of drugs and significant cash assets.
Prosecutors have proposed sentences ranging from 4 to 12 years, with potential leniency for cooperation or full confessions from the defendants.