Four Men Stand Trial in Berlin for Alleged International Weapons Trafficking

Prosecutors accuse the defendants of smuggling and selling over 300 firearms from 2022 to 2024, with ties to operations in Turkey and the Netherlands.

• Four men, aged 25 to 29, are accused of operating an international weapons trafficking ring and are now on trial in Berlin.
• The group allegedly smuggled and sold over 300 semi- and fully-automatic firearms, including a machine pistol, between October 2022 and June 2024.
• Authorities uncovered the operation following investigations in Bavaria, leading to raids in Berlin where 31 firearms were seized, some hidden in unusual locations like a range hood and under a mattress.
• One defendant is accused of purchasing 72 firearms in Turkey for €145,000 in May 2024, with another defendant reportedly profiting €258,000 from the scheme.
• The trial, scheduled to continue through late January, will determine whether a plea agreement is possible, with the next session set for December 18.

3 Articles

Der Tagesspiegel Stern Stern