Operation Messenger: Cracking Down on Digital Drug Trafficking

A large-scale inquiry, spearheaded by the Mainz Criminal Directorate and public prosecutor’s office, has dismantled a sophisticated drug trafficking operation utilizing messenger services for organized narcotics distribution. The coordinated effort involved nationwide searches, numerous arrests, and the implementation of advanced BTM (Betäubungsmittelgesetz – German Narcotics Law) investigation procedures.

Unmasking the Network: From Procurement to Postal Delivery

Extensive covert surveillance revealed a well-structured organization with clearly defined roles in procurement, logistics, and sales. Key players were identified in the Rhine-Main area and Bavaria, with postal services primarily used for distribution, highlighting a shift in drug trafficking methods to exploit logistical networks. This mirrors a growing trend, as darknet drug sales are increasingly being supplemented by conventional postal services, according to a 2024 report by the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA).

raids and Arrests: A Multi-State Operation

The investigation moved into its active phase in late February 2025, culminating in a series of coordinated raids, arrests, and seizures. Approximately 180 officers from Rhineland-Palatinate, hesse, and Bavaria together targeted 17 locations across Mainz, Wiesbaden, Frankfurt am Main, Ingolstadt, and the districts of Groß-Gerau and Mainz-Bingen.

the operation yielded meaningful results:

• Cash: Six-figure sum
• Data and Communication Devices: Various
• Firearms: One shotgun and ammunition
• Ecstasy: Approximately 3 kilograms
• Cocaine: 4 kilograms
• Cannabis Products: 38 kilograms
• Amphetamine: 21 kilograms
• Crystal Meth: 1 kilogram
• Heroin, Ketamine, Crystalline MDMA, LSD: Several hundred grams each

Eleven individuals, aged between 23 and 35, were initially detained. An investigative judge afterward issued arrest warrants for eight, with one individual later released.

Uncovering the Stash Houses: Mainz and Wiesbaden

further investigations in mid-March 2025 led to the revelation of two narcotics bunkers in Mainz and Wiesbaden. These locations were allegedly used as distribution hubs for narcotics. A subsequent operation, triggered by the handover of 25 kilograms of marijuana, resulted in searches of four properties in mainz and Wiesbaden.

The second wave of searches uncovered:

• Marijuana: 72 kilograms
• Hashish: Approximately 5 kilograms
• Cocaine: Several hundred grams
• Codeine bottles: Several hundred
• Cash: 44,000 euros
• Packaging and Shipping Materials: Various

Four additional individuals were temporarily arrested, and arrest warrants were issued for three.

The Broader Context: Drug Trafficking in germany

This bust highlights the ongoing challenge of combating drug trafficking in Germany. According to the German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), the trade in narcotics remains a significant source of revenue for organized crime groups. The increasing use of digital communication and postal services presents new challenges for law enforcement agencies.

The fight against drug trafficking requires a multi-faceted approach, including enhanced international cooperation, improved detection methods, and targeted prevention programs.

– A BKA Spokesperson