Shock trial in Tübingen: kidnapping, drugs and a smiling perpetrator!

Shock trial in Tübingen: kidnapping, drugs and a smiling perpetrator!

The wave of crime is making waves in the heart of Tübingen. On September 23, 2025, the trial of a 25-year-old man accused of extortion, organized crime and drug trafficking begins at the regional court. There are serious allegations that point to a violent kidnapping of a man in Reutlingen, supported by four unknown accomplices. [SWR] reports that a suitcase containing 20 kilograms of cocaine and several hundred thousand euros disappeared from the defendant's hotel room.

On the first day of the trial, the defendant appears calm and sits in the courtroom wearing sunglasses - a shocking image given the serious allegations made against him. While he remains silent, witness statements tell of shocking perpetrator behavior: The police officer reports that the victim was chased, overpowered and tied up with cable ties. After a shocking odyssey, the victim was held captive in a garden shed where he was subjected to solid and physical threats in order to obtain information about the missing suitcase.

A cruel undertaking

The victim's situation was extremely precarious: he was held captive for about a day and a half, without access to sanitary facilities. In the end, the kidnappers threw the victim out of the car in Tübingen, so that he had to be taken to the hospital with lacerations and bruises. The accused in turn accuses the victim of stealing the suitcase. A verdict is expected in early November and the excitement in the region is palpable.

But what does all of this mean for the bigger picture of organized crime in Germany? According to information from [Tagesschau], groups such as the “Thieves in Law” are often behind these criminal activities. This elite Russian criminal group is notorious for not cooperating with authorities and has its roots in Stalin's prison camps. Members of this group are mostly active in drug and arms trafficking, protection rackets and fraud.

A dark network

Aleksej G. from Rostock, a former member of this criminal elite, has violated the strict rules of his community and is acting as a key witness against other drug traffickers in northern Germany. This cooperation with the authorities has put him in great danger. He is now in the witness protection program and knows about the brutality that exists within the organization. Drug deliveries often occur in supermarket parking lots and are hidden in holes in the ground or basements. The Spanish and Dutch drug traffickers are part of a far-reaching network that stretches across Europe.

Aleksej G. was recently sentenced to six and a half years in prison for drug trafficking after trafficking cocaine and cannabis worth almost 1.8 million euros. Through his testimony, he has provided insight into the dark machinations of "thieves in law" and revealed dangerous connections to revelations about the arms trade. These criminal elements constantly act and resolve their conflicts in brutal ways, which underlines the danger of the situation.

At a time when organized crime is increasingly coming into the public eye, it remains to be seen what impact this trial in Tübingen will have on justice and security in Germany.