Worth 9 million euros

150 kilos of coke: 18 arrests at Tyrol’s “Bandidos”

The Tyrolean police have succeeded in striking a blow against drug-related crime in the rocker scene. At a press conference on Friday, provincial police director Helmut Tomac, LKA head Katja Tersch and Hansjörg Mayr, spokesman for the public prosecutor's office in Innsbruck, announced the details. Accordingly, 18 arrests were made.

The "Bandidos" rocker group was targeted by the investigators. Up to 150 kilograms of cocaine are said to have been smuggled from Italy to the "Holy Land". A total of 18 arrests were made. In addition to a 37-year-old main suspect, eight other people were remanded in custody, while the remaining suspects were released.

Street value of nine million euros
Only 750 grams of cocaine were actually seized. However, 14 "transportation trips" were proven. It is assumed that between 500 and 2000 grams of cocaine were transported on each trip. The LKA assumes that the system existed for over ten years. Head Katja Tersch therefore assumes an illegally trafficked quantity of 150 kilograms of cocaine with a street value of nine million euros.

Up to 150 kilograms of cocaine are said to have been involved.(Bild: P. Huber)

20 house searches
According to public prosecutor's spokesperson Hansjörg Mayr, a tip-off was received in July 2023 that the "Bandidos" group was making almost weekly drug trips from Italy to Austria. In the course of the investigation, 18 people were observed and 20 house searches were carried out. In addition to the drugs, 8,000 euros in cash as well as several weapons and vehicles were seized.

With this successful investigation, a "long-standing drug trade in Tyrol has been uncovered and brought to an end", stated Provincial Police Director Tomac. As a result, the police had prevented the rocker group from establishing an "official branch" in Tyrol.