20-year-old arrested with 17 kilos of cannabis at Vienna Airport!

20-year-old arrested with 17 kilos of cannabis at Vienna Airport!

Flughafen Wien-Schwechat, Österreich - On June 12, 2025, a spectacular arrest at Vienna-Schwechat Airport: A 20-year-old German citizen was caught when he transported around 17 kilograms of cannabis herb in his travel suitcase. The suitcase was originally checked for a flight from Bangkok to Edinburgh when the criminal officers of the city police command Schwechat became aware of the suspect and discovered the drugs.

The arrest took place in the area of ​​the further airgian, where the officers secured the suitcase and took the young man in custody. At the subsequent interrogation, however, the 20-year-old was not confessed with the smuggling of addictive substances. At the order of the Korneuburg public prosecutor's office, he was admitted to the judiciary in Korneuburg. This measure once again shows the determination of the authorities to act against drug trafficking.

A look at the drug crime

The numbers on drug crime make it clear that cannabis is still the most common drug in Germany. According to the Federal Criminal Police Office, a total of 346,877 drug offenses were registered in 2022, which corresponds to an increase of 1.8 percent compared to the previous year. Cannabis was involved in about two thirds of these cases, whereby around 207,563 drug offenses were registered in connection with the drug in 2023.

The cannabis's seizures were considerable this year. Around 20.9 tons of marijuana and 3.7 tons of hashish were secured, with the majority of the marijuanas from Western European indoor cultivation, especially from Spain. In this context, the recent arrest in Vienna is a further indication of the global drug transport networks that cross the borders.

strategies to combat drug crime

The police are pursuing several strategies to act against drug crime. A new cannabis law that comes into force on April 1, 2024 is intended to curb the black market. There are also numerous international collaborations to combat drug trafficking. This also includes cooperation with South American countries to reduce cocaine smuggling.

The increasing spread of drugs and their effects on society are alarming. In 2023, Germany recorded an increase in drug -related deaths by 11.9 percent compared to the previous year, which underlines the urgency of measures against drug use and information.

Overall, the arrest of the 20-year-old in Vienna shows how important it is to actively combat cross-border drug offenses. The problems of drug crime are not locally limited, but require international efforts and a coordinated approach.

Further information on drug crime can be found in the reports from 5min , NÖN and BKA Read.