A mother, father and son in Berlin have been charged by police for allegedly organising a multi-million-euro cannabis postal distribution service.

Berlin police charge family over cannabis postal service worth millions

Police in Berlin have charged a mother, father and their son for organising a weed dealing service via post. The parents, who are both 63 years old, and their 31-year-old son are expected to have turned over around 4,8 million euros from the business.

With the help of two further accomplices the family are said to have run multiple online shops on the darknet since May 2021. There patrons could order anywhere between 5 and 30 grams of weed which would be sent to them by post. 

Authorities were alerted when postal workers began to notice suspicious packages at distribution centres, resulting in around 1.300 packages containing cannabis not being delivered. In June this year the police found drugs, weapons and 450.000 euros in cash at the family’s house. According to the dpa, police discovered that the weed sold was being grown at four professional-level cultivation centres in Bavaria.

In the Tagesspiegel newspaper it was reported that over a 13-month period the family sent 60.000 packages, collectively containing around 600 kilograms of cannabis. This week, the public prosecution service in Berlin charged the family and their accomplices with gang-related armed trafficking of narcotics.

Marijuana decriminalisation progressing in Germany

The verdict comes less than a week since Germany’s health minister, Karl Lauterbach, announced details of the traffic light coalition’s plan to decriminalise marijuana. According to Lauterbach’s draft outline, people over the age of 18 will be able to buy and carry up to 20 grams of cannabis without facing any criminal punishment. People will also be able to grow up to three plants for personal consumption.

“If this law comes to pass, it would be the most liberal project to legalise cannabis in Europe, but also the most regulated market,” Lauterbach said at a press conference in Berlin last Wednesday, following the draft’s publication. “It could be a model for Europe,” he added.

It is yet unknown when Germany’s decriminalisation laws will come into effect. While some say it could be as early as the end of the year, justice minister Marco Buschmann hopes that the first joint will be sold legally in Germany in spring 2023.