Cologne: Drugs found in over 30 kiosks
Drugs, laughing gas and even a firearm were stored under shop counters in kiosks and arcades – at least that is the impression conveyed by Cologne police after a major operation on Thursday, June 25. During a large-scale inspection of more than 30 kiosks, arcades and commercial premises in Cologne city center, the Kalk district and Cologne-Porz, officers found violations at almost every location. Hardly any business escaped without objections.
More than 100 officers in joint operation
Cologne police assembled a task force of more than 100 people for the day. Alongside police officers, representatives of the regional government, the immigration office, the municipal public order service, the city's food inspection authority and customs also took part. Together with police, these cooperation partners formed a broadly positioned control team that specifically targeted businesses where illegal trade and violations of regulations are particularly suspected.
During the operation, authorities checked more than 100 people and inspected more than 40 vehicles. The measure was therefore not limited to the affected commercial premises themselves, but also covered their surroundings – customers, suppliers and vehicles near the controlled locations. This holistic approach was intended to provide as complete a picture as possible of illegal activities in and around the inspected businesses.
Violations at almost every inspected business
From the authorities' perspective, the result of the inspections was sobering: in fact, almost none of the more than 30 controlled businesses escaped without objections. In kiosks and arcades, officers found drugs and laughing gas directly under the shop counter – an indication that illegal goods were apparently operated as part of daily business and were easily accessible to customers.
The distribution of violations across different districts – city center, Kalk and Porz – shows that the problem is not confined to a single neighborhood. Rather, certain types of businesses in several Cologne districts appear to serve as shop windows for illegal goods. Police interpret the wide spread of finds as confirmation that targeted focused inspections in this segment are sensible and necessary.
Seized substances and items
Police seized a range of illegal goods during the operation. These include a total of more than 40 compressed gas cylinders containing laughing gas, one hundred grams of marijuana and several bags of cannabis. Prohibited nicotine and tobacco pouches were also confiscated. LSD-like substances and small amounts of heroin were added – a spectrum ranging from party drugs to hard narcotics.
In addition to drugs and addictive substances, officers also secured other items: a mobile phone reported as stolen, a bicycle and an air pistol. The combination of drugs, laughing gas and weapons under shop counters illustrates the risk such businesses can pose to their immediate surroundings. Customers who only wanted to buy a snack or a newspaper were effectively in close proximity to illegal goods.
Successes of cooperation partners
It was not only police who scored successes during the inspections. According to Cologne police headquarters, cooperation partners also carried out numerous successful measures. Customs, the immigration office, the regional government, the public order service and food inspection each examined their specific areas of responsibility – from labor and residence law issues to hygiene standards and tax and regulatory violations.
This interdisciplinary cooperation allows authorities to address violations holistically and not view the drug aspect in isolation. A kiosk storing drugs under the counter frequently also violates other regulations – for example in youth protection, trade law or food law. Joint inspections make such connections visible and enable parallel legal steps.
Further inspections announced
Cologne police announced that further similar inspections will take place in the future. The high hit rate of the latest operation – violations at almost every controlled business – is likely to serve as an argument for continuing such focused measures. For operators of the affected kiosks and arcades, this means increased pressure: those who carry illegal goods must expect repeated and unannounced inspections.
For residents and passersby in the affected districts, the operation also sends a signal of determination. Authorities want to make clear that kiosks and arcades do not stand outside the rule of law and that illegal trade in drugs and laughing gas in such businesses will not be tolerated. The combination of police, customs and municipal order authorities shows that Cologne is prepared to deploy the necessary resources for consistent enforcement.
Whether and to what extent the seized substances and items will lead to further criminal investigations remains open for now. What is certain, however, is that Thursday's operation gave Cologne authorities a detailed overview of the extent of illegal activities in a sensitive business segment – and at the same time made clear that the fight against drug dealing in kiosks and arcades will continue.
