Police uncover drug ring and remove children from homes

Police in Braunau district uncovered a suspected drug ring that allegedly distributed at least 18 kilograms of marijuana and other drugs, ORF reports. Six people have been arrested, and several children were taken into care from homes because of the danger allegedly posed by the drug trade.

In early April 2026, investigators from the Ried im Innkreis public prosecutor’s office searched a residential property in the district. They found a 44-year-old suspect, his 37-year-old partner and her two children, who were aged seven and 14 at the time. The children were taken into care with the assistance of child and youth services.

Children were also removed from the homes of other suspects in the neighbourhood because of an acute risk linked to drug trafficking. Investigators seized a professional cannabis-growing operation, weapons and drugs during the raids.

Police suspect the couple sold at least 18 kilograms of marijuana and other narcotics in recent months. They also found a room equipped for producing pornographic material. Evidence suggests that child pornography involving children of a former partner of the main suspect may have been produced there.

Further investigations uncovered a larger network of suspected drug suppliers. Four additional people from Braunau district are accused of supplying drugs to the house for processing. Investigators have identified numerous buyers and four suspected victims of sexual offences, as well as large quantities of digital evidence.

The main suspect couple has since been convicted of drug offences and sentenced to several years in prison. Investigators seized about 1.6 kilograms of marijuana, one kilogram of amphetamine, larger quantities of ecstasy tablets and drug money. All suspects made comprehensive confessions to the drug charges.