Düsseldorf drug trial: Public prosecutor demands high prison sentences

In the Düsseldorf trial against suspected drug traffickers from wealthy families, the public prosecutor's office demanded up to 13 years in prison. The confessed men, aged between 34 and 58, dealt drugs on a large scale, said public prosecutor Fabian Pollex.

Drug deals with revenues of eleven million euros

The two main defendants founded a criminal organization in 2022 and acted as its masterminds. With the help of other people involved, they are said to have sold several hundred kilograms of cocaine, 4 tons of marijuana, around 20 liters of amphetamine oil as well as around 5,000 oxycodone tablets and 1,000 ecstasy tablets. The investigators put the income at 11 million euros.

Because some of the defendants come from wealthy families in the Rhineland, the proceedings became known as the trial against the “Rich Kids”.

The defendants confessed fully. One of them also provided significant educational assistance, said the public prosecutor. A 45-year-old co-defendant from Bad Honnef, who is said to have risen into the leadership circle over time, also played a central role.

Months of evaluating chats and accounting data

The public prosecutor's office requested twelve and a half years and thirteen years in prison for the two main defendants. She demanded eleven years in prison for the 45-year-old. She requested prison sentences of six, eight and a half and nine years for the three other defendants.

The defense attorneys are scheduled to make their pleas next Friday. The verdict is announced for a week later.

According to the public prosecutor's office, investigators became aware of the group during other investigations in Bonn. After months of evaluating chats and accounting data, properties in Germany, Spain, Belgium, Poland and the Netherlands were searched at the end of March 2025 and the suspects were arrested.