Trial begins against two suspects for drug production in Brandenburg

After a huge drug cache was discovered last year in Nauen, Brandenburg, the trial against two suspects begins on Monday in the district court in Potsdam. “The two defendants, aged 54 and 42, are accused of having manufactured synthetic narcotics in a warehouse as members of a gang with other people and of having traded them illegally,” the court announced.

Large-scale drug production

Behind the soberly formulated description lies a case that is unprecedented in Brandenburg. The investigators discovered around 100 kilograms of finished drugs and tons of other chemicals. They seized more than 200,000 euros in cash from the two suspects' living quarters.

Operations manager Henner Grote said after the operation: “What’s special is the size: I’ve been doing this work for over 30 years. I've never had a laboratory like this before." The investigators were busy clearing the hall for days. “This is a very big thing,” said the spokesman for the Berlin-Brandenburg customs investigation office, Christian Lanninger. The investigators assume that the substances were intended for the Berlin market.

Suspected party drugs manufactured

Given the size of the find, a complex, large-scale operation began. Without the support of the technical relief agency, disaster control and the fire department, the halls could not be cleared, Lanninger said after the discovery.

Before the access in October 2025, the officials had observed the area for months following a tip-off in May. After the access, a long examination of the chemicals followed. The results will also be the subject of the main hearing at the regional court in Potsdam. According to the initial results of the customs investigation, the drugs 3-CMC and 4-CMC were found. They are amphetamines and are classified as party drugs, said a police spokesman.

In addition to the already finished drugs, large quantities of chemical substances that are required for production have been discovered. According to current knowledge, crystal meth is not said to have been produced.

The police have recently seen synthetic drugs on the rise. Berlin, with its party scene, is the hotspot for stimulating party drugs, according to a spokesman. Drug manufacturers would therefore more often set up their laboratories around Berlin. Here they felt isolated. In addition, rented halls in Brandenburg are usually cheaper than in Berlin.