In a shocking revelation that gives new meaning to “secret ingredient”, German police have busted a pizzeria in Düsseldorf for delivering cocaine stashed under its pizzas. The discovery led to a major crackdown on an organized crime ring operating in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Cocaine-laced “Pizza Number 40” Raises Suspicions
The pizza joint first aroused suspicion during a routine food inspection in March, when authorities found traces of cocaine in the kitchen. Undercover surveillance revealed that one dish in particular – enigmatically titled “Number 40” – was flying off the shelves.
“It was one of the most-sold pizzas,” disclosed Chief Inspector Michael Graf von Moltke. The pizzeria’s slogan “We deliver everything home to you” took on a sinister double meaning as investigators uncovered that each serving of Number 40 came with a hidden “condiment” – a packet of cocaine tucked under the pie.
Owner Caught “White”-Handed
When questioned, the 36-year-old Croatian owner made a desperate attempt to discard evidence by flinging a bag of drugs out the window – right into the waiting arms of officers. Police proceeded to seize 1.6 kg of cocaine, 400g of cannabis, €268,000 in cash, along with luxury watches and an arsenal of weapons including a handgun, axe, and long-bladed knives.
Shockingly, the owner reopened for business just two days after his arrest, brazenly continuing to sell his cocaine-spiked specialty. But this only allowed investigators to trace the incoming supply to his dealers.
MMA Fighter Emerges as Ruthless Ringleader
The trail led to a 22-year-old Russian-born suspect described as a “violent and unscrupulous” mixed martial arts fighter. Already known to police, he is believed to have headed a network dealing in cocaine and bulk cannabis.
Sources allege the MMA fighter’s gang engaged in brutal turf wars, robbing and attacking rival dealers. In one incident, they reportedly held a competitor hostage for two nights before looting a large stash of hashish from his home.
Major Crackdown Nets Multiple Arrests
The pizzeria bust was just the tip of the iceberg. In a sweeping raid involving 150 officers across nine cities, three core suspects were arrested: the MMA fighter, a 30-year-old German alleged dealer from Cologne, and a 28-year-old Moroccan captured near Düsseldorf.
Police identified 12 additional suspects in a drug ring accused of buying and reselling kilos of cocaine and cannabis, as well as cultivating over 300 marijuana plants in Mönchengladbach – shockingly, in a flat housing the wife and three young children of one suspect, now in foster care.
Facing the Scales of Justice
Both the pizzeria owner and MMA fighter ringleader remain in custody as they await a date with the courts. Prosecutor Laura Neumann warned the Russian national could face up to 15 years behind bars for narcotics felonies and kidnapping.
The case might be ripped from a movie script – in fact, it eerily mirrors the 2001 cult comedy “Lammbock”, where two pizza chefs hide cannabis under slices of salami. But for the real-life Düsseldorf pizza crew, their coked-up twist on a classic recipe is no laughing matter as they face the long arm of the law.
