Düsseldorf: Police raided a pizzeria in western Germany, alleging that it served customers cocaine alongside their orders for item number 40 on the menu. Food inspectors tipped off authorities in March which prompted drug squad officers to monitor the restaurant.
When officers went to the 36-year-old pizzeria manager’s apartment to detain him, he reportedly threw a bag of drugs out of the window. The bag “fell right into the arms of the police officers,” as stated by Düsseldorf police. In the apartment, police discovered 1.6 kg of cocaine, 400 g of cannabis, and €268,000 (Rs 2.44 crore) in cash.
Pizzeria serves cocaine with pizza
The manager was released a few days later. He reopened the restaurant, continuing to sell the drug and pizza combination. Investigators then used this opportunity to trace the drug supply chain linked to the pizzeria, leading to a drug ring bust in western Germany weeks later.
Around 150 officers conducted raids on two cannabis plantations: one in Mönchengladbach, west of Düsseldorf, where they found 300 plants and another in Solingen, east of the city, where 60 plants were located. The homes and businesses of 12 suspects were also raided, resulting in three arrests, including a 22-year-old believed to be the leader of the drug operation.
During the raids, police found weapons, cash and expensive watches. The pizzeria manager was rearrested while he was trying to leave the country and remains in custody.
Criminal director Michael Graf von Moltke said that item number 40 on the menu was one of the best-selling pizzas. Police have not disclosed the names of others involved in the drug operation or the price of the pizza and cocaine combination.
