Cologne police talk: Drug war, explosions and new measures are the focus

Cologne police talk: Drug war, explosions and new measures are the focus

Today, June 12, 2025, the people of Cologne can expect an exciting event that deals with the current challenges of the drug war in the city. From 6 p.m. Gabor Leitner will moderate the “Polizeitalk” on Radio Cologne, where police chief Johannes Hermanns and police spokesman Wolfgang Baldes are expected as guests. The focus of the discussion is on burning topics from exploding acts of violence to the effects of cannabis legalization on the streets of Cologne. Loud Radio Cologne The noticeable shift in drug trafficking from the city center to the neighboring Veedel is also discussed.

The issue is both current and alarming. Police report a worrying series of explosions, shootings and hostage-taking that are closely linked to the drug war. The Neumarkt, Ebertplatz and Appellhofplatz are particularly in focus, where the police are introducing measures to improve security. Interested citizens have the opportunity to ask questions and actively participate in the discussion.

Drug crime in Cologne

A trial is currently underway in the youth chamber of the Cologne regional court against three men from the Netherlands. They are charged with taking hostages and causing grievous bodily harm - part of a larger drug network that is intertwined with a raid on a cannabis delivery that was supposed to take place in Hürth in June 2024. Loud WDR It was a significant blow to drug crime when over 700kg of cannabis was stolen in this raid. But that's not all: a drug-related kidnapping also occurred in Bochum, which shows how interconnected these businesses are.

The defendants in these trials remain silent about the allegations, and everything indicates that the violence is taking ever deeper roots in drug-related crime. A recent trial also involved a 30-year-old Iraqi man who was charged in connection with hostage-taking. This case also highlights the increasing brutality with which drug-related crime occurs in the region.

Global perspectives and upcoming challenges

However, a look beyond Cologne's borders shows that drug policy is not only important locally, but also internationally. Many countries have begun to distance themselves from traditional prohibition and are increasingly relying on harm-reduction measures. For example, the Netherlands, Belgium and Portugal have made progress in decriminalizing cannabis possession, which has had positive effects for many of these countries. Loud bpb In recent years, there has been an increasing number of countries that have used their leeway under international law to reform drug policy.

The global norms established since the 1970s as part of the “war on drugs” can no longer remain unchallenged. The question arises as to whether the Cologne police and politicians can react sufficiently to these international trends in order to successfully curb drug trafficking and consumption. Today's discussion in Police Talk could provide some important food for thought here.