Accessed: July 2, 2026, 12:38 p.m.
Customs and police seized more than 1.2 tons of cannabis at the port of Hamburg. They say the drugs were brought from Thailand. Among the suspected smugglers are two men from Lower Saxony.
Hidden in shipping containers, disguised as building materials: this is how the gang is said to have smuggled cannabis into Europe. According to the investigation department of the Hannover Customs, the drugs arrived at the port of Hamburg by ship from Thailand. First, German and Polish investigators seized 400 kilograms of marijuana in Hamburg in early May. They transported the container to its destination in Stettin, Poland, without drug controls and gained access to it there. Emergency services arrested four suspects at the warehouse, including a man from the Diepholz area.
In the port of Hamburg: investigators go on strike twice
The drug was disguised as a building material.
The group reportedly continued to deal drugs despite the police operation. The same month, emergency services seized another container containing approximately 800 kilograms of cannabis in the port of Hamburg. The container arrived in Poland, this time in Poznan, without any illegal cargo. There, officers arrested four more suspected smugglers, including a second man from the Diepholz area. According to investigators, the street value of cannabis is twelve million euros.
Marijuana was particularly frequently seized, but investigators are also looking at hard drugs.
The authorities of Hannover, Oldenburg and Verden are involved in the investigation.
The two suspects from Diepholz County were reported to be in charge of logistical tasks. The international raid was organized by representatives of Hannover customs, Oldenburg police, the Verden prosecutor’s office and the Polish border service. In a statement, the Customs Criminal Investigation Department said it was a “great success.” Investigators are now looking for others involved in this case.
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Officials received a tip from abroad. The cocaine was hidden in fruit crates.
In early June, searches were carried out in several apartments in Hannover. The accused were said to have smuggled large quantities of cannabis.
The criminals reportedly used addresses in Braunschweig and Isernhagen. Investigators arrested suspected gang members.
In February 2021, the largest drug discovery in German history to date was made. The gang leaders left Hannover.