Trial for the “Cologne Drug War” begins: Seven defendants are on trial

Brutal abuse, explosions and hostage-taking - the “Cologne Drug War” caused a stir across the region. The trigger is believed to be the robbery of around 350 kilograms of marijuana from a warehouse in Hürth near Cologne. As of Monday (9:15 a.m.), the seven suspected perpetrators between the ages of 36 and 48 will stand before the Cologne district court for particularly serious robbery, grievous bodily harm, deprivation of liberty and armed cannabis trafficking.

The public prosecutor's office assumes that a gang operating from the Kalk district of Cologne stored around 700 kilograms of marijuana in the warehouse in June 2024. The defendants are said to have found out about this and decided to commit a robbery. Armed with machine guns, they are said to have beaten, kicked and tied up several men who were guarding the warehouse. The group is said to have escaped with around half of the drugs.

Suspected leader is threatened with preventive detention

As a result, the robbed gang is said to have pulled out all stops to get the missing marijuana back. Among other things, hostage-taking, torture and explosive attacks were used to put pressure on possible informants in order to obtain information about the whereabouts of the drugs. The trial against the alleged leader of the gang has been going on for several months - the 24-year-old faces long prison and preventive detention.

There have now been numerous trials and convictions in connection with the “Cologne Drug War”. In total, more than 40 defendants have so far had to appear before the Cologne district court, a spokesman said. The trial against the seven men now accused is scheduled to expire in January 2027.