German police have shut down one of Düsseldorf's most popular pizzerias, the city's criminal police director Michael Graf von Moltke said.
He specified that the decision was related to the "Pizza No. 40" offered on the menu, which contained cocaine.
Allegations against the pizzeria were filed back in March this year by the sanitary authorities and then by the anti-drug trafficking unit of the local police, which discovered the presence of cocaine in "Pizza No. 40".
"Then it became clear to all of us what the popularity of this pizza was due to," Moltke said.
Upon arresting the 36-year-old pizzeria owner, he threw a full bag out the window, but unfortunately for him, it fell right into the hands of a police officer who was on the sidewalk. The bag contained 1.6 kg of cocaine, 268 000 euros and 400 grams of cannabis.
Police said that after his arrest the owner was released and he immediately started offering "Pizza No. 40" with cocaine again. This has enabled investigators to uncover all those involved in the criminal ring. Just a few weeks later, 150 police officers conducted a large-scale operation in western Germany and arrested a total of 15 people, including a 22-year-old man who was the mastermind behind the drug supply.
The raid uncovered two cannabis plantations, a cool weapon, cash and expensive watches. The owner of the pizzeria tried to flee abroad and therefore remains in custody. The police refused to announce the price of "Pizza No. 40." I BGNES
