Drug drive in Schwabach: 52-year-old flees from the police!

Drug drive in Schwabach: 52-year-old flees from the police!

On Thursday, June 19th, the police in Schwabach were able to stop a 52-year-old man during a traffic stop on Ludwigstrasse. The check was anything but routine, as the driver was found to have clear signs of drug use. A subsequent drug test came as no surprise: it was positive and required a blood sample to be taken in the hospital. As if that wasn't enough, the authorities also confiscated a banned knife and the man's vehicle keys. The driver was then told that he was not allowed to drive himself, but that didn't stop him from returning to the police with a companion a day later, on Friday, to demand his keys back.

The companion identified himself as the future driver of the vehicle, but the 52-year-old ignored the police's instructions and was caught behind the wheel again. Once again his behavior was a thorn in the side of the police. He initially stopped, but then fled, which ended in a short pursuit through the city park, where he was finally arrested. On this occasion, officers were able to seize several grams of a synthetic drug. The measures that had already been taken the day before were initiated again and new charges had to be filed against him, as nn.de reports.

A worrying phenomenon

The incidents in Schwabach reflect a worrying development in Germany and throughout Europe. The 2025 Drug Report documents an increase in illegal drug use, particularly cocaine and a variety of new synthetic substances. Cannabis, which remains the most widely used drug, shows a remarkable diversification of products. There is a particular focus on the increasing use of synthetic drugs such as cathinones, and since 2009 over 88 new synthetic agents have come onto the market. This is not only leading to an increase in seizures, but also to an alarming recruitment of young people, including migrants, as couriers for drug crime, as tagesschau.de reports.

The situation is becoming increasingly complex: EU Interior Commissioner Magnus Brunner speaks of new challenges for the security authorities, because drug gangs are increasingly operating globally and acting with a frightening intensity. At the same time, there are also indications of increasing production figures for synthetic materials within Europe.

A European solution?

In response to these developments, a new strategy called ProtectEU is being launched to combat organized crime more effectively. The focus is on the financial flows of drug trafficking and the fight against violence in cities. A global approach is needed to get drug crime under control; after all, these problems are not limited to Germany. The European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) has reported that highly potent synthetic substances and new drug mixtures pose a growing threat, and this is just the tip of the iceberg, as euda.europa.eu notes.

The EU's new drug agency will soon start working to monitor the current situation and create a clear network to combat drug trafficking. The challenges cannot be underestimated, as the wide range of drugs and the associated health risks make this task all the more urgent.