Criminal investigators from the Vienna State Criminal Police Office, Eastern Center Division, have seized 30 packages containing drugs. The packages were addressed to a Vienna-based company offering “anonymized parcel receipt for a fee,” according to the Vienna Police Directorate. An 18-year-old individual who picked up one of the parcels is now under investigation and is already incarcerated in a correctional facility.
The investigation began more than two weeks ago after a package control in Lower Austria. The police discovered large quantities of cannabis and magic mushrooms in one of the parcels. Following this, Vienna’s drug investigators traced the origin and destination address of the parcel, which led them to a company address in Vienna-Leopoldstadt. “Recipients are not required to further legitimize themselves or provide identification,” explained a police spokesperson. The investigators then identified the person picking up a package near the company’s location and gathered information on the person who placed the order.
18-Year-Old Suspect Arrested
The next day, investigators arrested an 18-year-old Austrian in his apartment in Vienna-Hernals. During a search of the property, cash and a small amount of cannabis were seized. The suspect refused to comment on the charges and was taken to a correctional facility. Following this, the officers seized the 30 packages. “Amounts ranging from grams to kilograms were found,” said the spokesperson. The range of substances was also broad, “ranging from cannabis to psychoactive substances to other drugs.” Police are now working to identify the recipients of the packages. The investigation is being conducted in close coordination with the Federal Criminal Police Office.
“Especially the drug trade via postal services poses significant challenges for the police,” said Daniel Lichtenegger, head of the Narcotics Crime Unit at the Federal Criminal Police Office. “Such services complicate our efforts in the fight against drug crime. On the contrary, these models can even foster criminal activities,” he added.
