Drug dealers in court: vacation from prison for Rostock perpetrators!

Drug dealers in court: vacation from prison for Rostock perpetrators!

The Rostock district court is currently focusing on a drug case that shows the dark side of drug trafficking in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The defendants, Benjamin H. and Andre Sch., both in their mid-thirties and from well-off backgrounds, found themselves in trouble because of their drug dealings. Benjamin H. is a freight train driver and has an eleven-year-old son, while Andre Sch. works as a landscaper and property manager and is the father of three children. Her crime: distribution of drugs and possession of an illegal weapon.

According to Uckermark Kurier, the public prosecutor's office investigated after a “trusted person” gave a tip. In a hole in the ground on a farm in Rostock, the authorities found five kilograms of marijuana and a fully automatic pistol that had been tampered with. Benjamin H. admitted that the marijuana was for personal use, but denied any knowledge of the weapon. Both defendants agreed to make full confessions, which was well received in court.

Verdict and outlook

Benjamin H. was given a suspended sentence of six months, while Andre Sch. a prison sentence of two years and eight months was imposed. The judge warned both of them to stay clear of punishment during their probation period. Interestingly, Andre Sch. to go on vacation before starting his prison sentence, and he decided not to return the weapon that was confiscated from him.

However, this is only part of the overall picture of drug-related crime in the region. [NDR]. The drug trade there is partly organized by the Russian mafia, which is known for its influence in the region. Former drug traffickers like Aleksej G. have already made incriminating statements against colleagues and provided insights into the tightly organized structures.

Drug shortage and crime

A look at the figures from Statista shows that drug crime is still a major problem in Germany. Nearly 347,000 drug crime cases were recorded in 2023, a 2 percent increase from the previous year. The focus is on cannabis, which has also been partially legalized by law. Despite this legalization, the proportion of cannabis cases remains high and a large proportion of drug trafficking offenses continue to involve illegal substances.

The health consequences of drug use are considerable: the number of drug-related deaths has increased in recent years. With an increase to over 2,200 deaths in 2023, it becomes clear how important education and prevention work is in society. Clearly identifying the regional drug problem and taking active measures to counteract it therefore remains a central challenge for politics and society.