Drug war in Cologne: hostage taking and hit squad in the dock!

Drug war in Cologne: hostage taking and hit squad in the dock!

The trial against 30-year-old Botan I. began today in the Cologne district court. He is accused of serious offenses, including violations of the weapons law and aiding and abetting hostage-taking. This case is part of the region's harrowing drug war, which has caused outrage both nationally and locally in recent months. The actors in the drug milieu emerged not only through explosions and robberies, but also through a spectacular hostage-taking that came as a shock to many, as t-online.de reports.

A police witness took the stand during the trial and provided insight into the group's machinations. The statements made by Fauzi K., a member of the gang behind the kidnapping of a couple from the Ruhr area, were particularly explosive. According to his statement, 250,000 euros in cash were brought to Botan I's apartment in order to use the funds to carry out a variety of illegal transactions. The money was counted with a counting machine in front of the police before it was finally left in the apartment as collateral.

The hit squad in the drug world

The police further investigated that Botan I. was obviously involved in the handover of three ready-to-fire weapons, which were passed on to a “kill squad” from the Netherlands a few hours after the money was transferred. These men, referred to as “Shooters 1, 2 and 3” by Fauzi K., are suspected of being responsible for brutal acts of violence as part of the drug war. Their charges include taking hostages and grievous bodily harm, and trials are already underway against them, as WDR reports.

Parallel to the trial against Botan I., other proceedings are ongoing, all of which paint a picture of the confusing and violent environment of Cologne's drug milieu. This also includes the remarkable events surrounding 700 kg of cannabis that were stolen in Hürth and which underpin these brutal reactions. The decline in peaceful conflict is dangerous because the reactions to this theft have already led to kidnappings and increased violence in the drug community.

Drug offenses in Germany

The drug war in Cologne is also reflected in the nationwide statistics. In 2023, around 347,000 drug crime cases were reported in Germany, an increase of 2 percent compared to the previous year. What is particularly striking is that cannabis, despite its partial legal use since April 2024, remains the biggest challenge, with around 208,000 of the cases involving cannabis use. These developments are a serious sign of the ongoing problem of drug-related crime in Germany, which is burdening society at various levels, as Statista notes.

The situation in Cologne's drug landscape shows how intricate the network of organized crime is. And as the trial against Botan I continues, it remains to be seen what further revelations and complications will come to light that could further shape the image of the drug war in Cologne.