Side of cocaine with that? German police raid pizzeria after finding secret ingredient

Authorities smash drugs gang in North Rhine-Westphalia after learning Düsseldorf pizzeria was delivering narcotics

Deborah Cole in Berlin

Tue 22 Oct 2024 15.03 CEST

Pizza Number 40 was long one of the best-selling dishes at a restaurant in the German city of Düsseldorf, until police discovered the secret ingredient: a side of cocaine.

Authorities say uncovering the illicit narcotics delivery scheme allowed them to smash an organised crime ring in Germany’s most populous state, North Rhine-Westphalia. About 150 officers, including from elite units, last week searched 16 properties in nine cities, arrested three suspects and seized caches of weapons, news agency DPA reported.

Ch Insp Michael Graf von Moltke said police had had the pizzeria, in a popular party district of the city, in their sights since March, when a routine food inspection uncovered the drug in kitchen. Narcotics investigators put the business under surveillance and noticed that Pizza Number 40 was a customer favourite.

“It was one of the most-sold pizzas,” Von Moltkesaid. A packet of cocaine was placed under each pie. “That was new to us and surprised us because the owner had never been accused of drug crimes.”

The pizzeria’s advertising slogan was “We deliver everything home to you.” It was not immediately clear what the business charged for Number 40 or what its toppings were. “Even if we knew, we wouldn’t release it,” a police spokesperson said.

Officers confiscated 1.6kg of cocaine, 400g of cannabis and €268,000 in cash. Photograph: supplied

When officers arrived to question the 36-year-old shop owner, the Croatian national allegedly threw a bag stuffed with drugs out the window. “It fell into the arms of the officers,” police said.

Officers confiscated 1.6kg of cocaine, 400g of cannabis and €268,000 in cash as well as expensive watches and a handgun, an axe and long-bladed knives believed to be part of the gang’s arsenal.

Two days after being released from custody because he had no previous criminal record, the owner reopened the shop and began selling his blockbuster pizza again, allowing investigators to trace his supply chain.

They quickly came upon a “violent and unscrupulous” prime suspect, Von Moltke said, a 22-year-old Russian-born mixed martial arts fighter who was known to police and who authorities believe was dealing cocaine and large amounts of cannabis in violation of recently liberalised drug laws.

He is suspected of repeatedly attacking and robbing rival dealers, one of whom was allegedly held hostage for two nights before a large amount of hashish was stolen from his home.

Police said the 22-year-old as well as a 30-year-old German alleged dealer from Cologne and a 28-year-old Moroccan captured in Haan near Düsseldorf were now in police custody, while another 12 people were considered suspects. The pizzeria owner has been in custody since August and his shop is now closed.