Munich, December 12 – The Bavarian State Criminal Police Office (LKA) has achieved a significant success in its fight against organized crime, culminating in the arrest of a 39-year-old man in Munich’s pedestrian zone on December 2nd. The suspect is accused of belonging to an international cocaine trafficking organization and is believed to have dealt in hundreds of kilograms of the drug. This operation, which involved over 60 officers, also has a direct connection to another arrest on the same day, during which a second suspect was shot.
Four Years of Investigations Lead to Major Bust
The arrest of the 39-year-old Croatian national marks the culmination of four years of intensive investigations by drug enforcement units. Led by the Munich I Public Prosecutor’s Office, the operation involved not only the LKA and the Munich Customs Investigation Office but also the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA). Investigators had been tracking the suspect since 2021, who reportedly moved to Bosnia in autumn 2024, only to resurface in Munich shortly before his arrest.
During the apprehension in the pedestrian zone at midday on December 2nd, and subsequent searches, law enforcement seized approximately 4.5 kilograms of cocaine and a substantial amount of cash from the suspect’s apartment. Additionally, officers secured documents, storage media, and expensive watches, the latter intended to recover any illegal profits from his criminal activities. The LKA stated that the suspect held a “prominent role” within the drug trafficking group.
The evaluation of the seized evidence is expected to take some time. The suspect was brought before an investigating judge at the Munich District Court the day after his arrest and has since been remanded in custody.
Second Suspect Shot During Arrest in Obersendling
On the same day as the arrest in the pedestrian zone, another man was shot by law enforcement officers in Obersendling after he drove his car towards a police officer during his attempted arrest. The suspect was initially hospitalized and is now also in custody. The Munich police announced on Wednesday that following his arrest at 3:30 PM, searches of his apartment, cellar, and vehicles uncovered several kilograms of narcotics, a large sum of cash, live firearms, a bulletproof vest, and forged identity documents.
According to a report by the Süddeutsche Zeitung, the attempted escape in Obersendling was directly related to the earlier arrest in the pedestrian zone, indicating a clear connection between the two men.
Broader Context: Tackling Organized Drug Crime
This dual operation highlights the ongoing efforts by Bavarian authorities to combat organized drug crime, which has been flooding the region with cocaine. Previous operations, such as a major raid against a drug ring in Augsburg where 17 individuals were arrested, underscore the scale of the challenge faced by law enforcement.
The LKA emphasizes its commitment to dismantling such networks and prosecuting those involved in the international drug trade. The successful arrests in Munich are expected to disrupt significant supply chains and send a strong message to criminal organizations operating in the region.
Further details regarding the ongoing investigations and potential charges are anticipated as the evidence is processed and analyzed.
Source: Bavarian State Criminal Police Office (LKA), Munich Police, Munich I Public Prosecutor’s Office
