The Grand Ducal Police yesterday reported that 20 arrests have been made and several kilos of drugs and more than €140,000 seized following a drug raid conducted in Wasserbillig last Tuesday 27 October 2015.
The drug bust was the result of several months of investigation by the Judicial Police Service into an African narcotics network which had been on the rise in the Grand Duchy over the last several years, particularly along streets in the Gare district of Luxembourg City.
On Tuesday 27 October 2015, 13 foreign nationals were arrested on the spot with warrants issued by the examining magistrate of Luxembourg, with another individual appearing before the magistrate for another gross offense.
A number of dealers had reportedly found refuge in the targeted building and were prepared having concealed their illegal substances. Other individuals in the building were caught by surprise by the police raid and were submitted to an identity check, during which the identification papers of one were found to be fake. This individual was taken into custody at a detention centre under the order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A parallel action in Luxembourg has led to the arrest of another five people. All appeared the following day before the examining magistrate at the District Court in Luxembourg. Further actions as part of the investigation led to another individual being arrested on 29 October 2015.
The operation took place under the authority of the national judicial authorities, with EUROPOL providing certain analytical support.
Although the drug seizure has not been definitively quantified to date, the Grand Ducal Police have so far reported the confiscation of €142,718, around 2 kg of cocaine, 1.43 kg of marijuana, 245 mobile telephones and 42 PCs, laptops or tablets.
The police announced further investigation and questioning against the suspects would be conducted.
Photo by Police Grand Ducale
