Suche
Mein Konto
Cologne drug war: hostage taker talks about missed fatherhood
In the drug crime trial in Cologne-Rodenkirchen, defendants described torture and hostage-taking in connection with marijuana thefts.
Cologne drug war: hostage taker talks about missed fatherhood
A harrowing trial that shed light on the dark side of drug trafficking in the region continued in the Cologne regional court on Wednesday. Three Dutchmen are suspected of being members of a notorious drug gang and are in the focus of justice for torture and hostage-taking. The defendants are said to have extorted information about the robbery of 350 kilos of marijuana from a warehouse in Hürth, which represents the first direct confessions in connection with the so-called “Cologne Drug War”. Cologne City Gazette reports that Sudnyson B., one of the defendants, expressed regret for his actions through his defense attorney.
Without much fuss, Sudnyson B. described the circumstances that led to him ending up behind bars. He had missed the birth of his son, and this was said to be his greatest punishment. Apparently he was hired for a job of 2000 euros to put pressure on possible thieves. However, it remains questionable whether he really didn't know what awaited him in Germany, as he was part of the gangs' brutal tactics.
Brutal approach
According to the public prosecutor's office, Sudnyson B. and his accomplices tied up their victims in an inconspicuous warehouse in Hürth and brutally mistreated them. This was allegedly done using objects to extort the most necessary information. However, Sudnyson B. denied engaging in extreme violence such as pulling toenails. An essential turning point in the trial came when Dhelmar B., co-defendant, acknowledged the hostage-taking, but stated that he had acted under pressure and a heavy burden of debt.
This current return to horrific crimes is seen in the context of growing drug-related crime in Germany. In June 2024, the defendants hid approximately 700 kilograms of marijuana, which they obtained through torture and hostage-taking. An example of the ruthless brutality that has now become part of the drug trade, where even explosions and gunfire occurred, accompanied by a clash between rival gangs. ZDF today reports on these incidents and the associated tragic consequences.
A big problem for society
How the EU Commission now wants to take action against drug trafficking and organized crime with a new roadmap shows how serious the situation is. Drug trafficking is considered one of the biggest security threats to the EU and the plan includes 17 measures to combat criminal networks. This initiative is accompanied by the increasing threat from organized crime, which is also becoming increasingly alarming for the Cologne scene. EU representation provides information about the strategies that will apply until 2025.
The deadly complications in the drug war could affect not only the future of the defendants, but also the circles from which they come. Young men from precarious backgrounds risk their lives for little money. The security authorities are observing with concern the phenomenon of “crime as a service”, whereby criminal structures operate in a manner that almost seems industrial.
The question remains how society can deal with these challenges. Will it be possible to combat the roots of this violence, or will it remain a tragic part of Cologne's reality? One thing is certain: a lot will have to be done to break the spiral of violence in the drug trade.