Drug-Related Crime in Dortmund | Drug Offences

In 2014, 3,383 criminal offences relating to drug crime were recorded in Dortmund. Compared with the previous year, this represents a slight decrease. The number of drug-related deaths also declined to seven victims – in 2009, the figure had been twice as high. Unfortunately, however, the number of unreported cases in drug offences can scarcely be estimated. Although Dortmund police have increased their presence in the northern city centre and the northern districts and have consequently succeeded in convicting many cannabis dealers, this also reveals the core problem: dealers trading in so-called “hard” drugs are not naïve and have since ceased selling their goods in the Nordstadt area. The problem has therefore not disappeared, but merely shifted location – and the authorities do not yet appear to know where.

Our IHK-certified private and corporate detectives from Kurtz Detective Agency Dortmund act on behalf of employers and concerned relatives in cases of suspected consumption, trafficking, or abuse of illegal narcotics. Employers fear a dramatic decline in performance at the workplace and uncontrolled behaviour towards customers and colleagues, while relatives see the risk of an irreversible descent into drug addiction and its associated social consequences. We would be pleased to meet with you to discuss the options in your individual case: +49 231 8401 0065.

Alcohol and Drugs in the Workplace (Case Study)

The uninformed observer may sometimes assume that drug addicts sit comfortably at home indulging their addiction. Far from it. Some employees are unable to keep their hands off drugs even during working hours, as the following case from 2013 illustrates:

Narcotics as a Companion in Road Traffic

Kurt (all names changed) had been working for almost a year at the headquarters of a medical transport company. He coordinated journeys, transmitted assignments to drivers via radio, and planned routes for the coming days. He enjoyed a consistently good relationship with his colleagues in the office and with the drivers, in some cases bordering on friendship.

One day, one of the drivers, Konrad, came to his office and requested a private conversation. Konrad reported that another driver, Stefan, was consuming marijuana before and during his shifts. He asked Kurt to speak with Stefan, as the two of them had a particularly close relationship beyond ordinary collegiality. Kurt should persuade Stefan not to take drugs while at work. Kurt was genuinely speechless. Having never had any contact with drugs himself, he had not noticed Stefan’s behaviour, nor had Stefan ever mentioned it. He promised Konrad that he would address the issue of drugs and their consumption with his colleague.

A Collegial Conversation of Reason?

The following day, Kurt invited Stefan into his office and confronted him about his drug use. Stefan did not deny it. Instead, he countered that he “simply” smoked marijuana, while other drivers drank alcohol during their lunch break, and asked whether Kurt would also address them. In his view, alcohol was far worse than a little marijuana. Stefan was visibly irritated and stated that he would only reconsider his smoking habits once his colleagues stopped drinking during working hours. With that, he left the office. Later that day, Kurt informed Konrad of the unsatisfactory outcome of the discussion.

Typical of drug dependency is the trivialisation of addiction and diversion to other issues in order to avoid confronting one’s own problem. Unfortunately, Stefan showed no insight whatsoever and continued consuming marijuana before and during working hours. Konrad felt compelled to inform company management. Stefan was summoned and denied all allegations. As no witnesses other than Konrad were willing to testify against their colleague, the company had no possibility of initiating employment law measures.

Instruction of Kurtz Detective Agency Dortmund: Surveillance and Undercover Deployment

The company director, Mr Werne, quite rightly felt deceived by his employee and feared for the reputation of his business. One can hardly imagine the consequences if one of his drivers were involved in a traffic accident under the influence of illegal narcotics. Through his solicitor, Mr Werne sought advice regarding his remaining options for removing the delinquent employee from the company. Legal counsel recommended instructing Kurtz Detective Agency Dortmund.

Our detectives developed a dual-track investigative strategy. Through surveillance of the employee outside working hours, contacts with drug dealers and possible consumption of narcotics could be documented, provided Stefan consumed them in public spaces. Even more significant, however, appeared to be the covert placement of a Dortmund corporate detective within the company in order to observe Stefan’s consumption behaviour during working hours. For this purpose, the undercover investigator would need to build a friendship with the driver to justify close proximity. Ideally, Stefan would eventually feel no need to conceal his drug use from the detective at all.

Outcome: Summary Dismissal

The surveillance of Stefan produced limited results. If he consumed drugs privately, he did so within his own home and therefore outside the observable range of Kurtz Detective Agency Dortmund. On one occasion, he was observed at a known drug exchange location, and it is highly probable that his handshake with a suspicious individual present there involved the exchange of money for drugs. However, this could not be conclusively proven through surveillance alone. When Stefan was at home, the flicker of a television screen was usually visible through his windows. According to Kurt, he was an enthusiastic “gamer”, passionate about video games.

Far more productive were the findings of our undercover Dortmund detective. Through the shared interest in gaming, he quickly established rapport with the suspect, even arranging to meet at Stefan’s flat one evening to play together. During this meeting, Stefan revealed a great deal, openly speaking about his drug use at work and smoking cannabis throughout the evening. Thereafter, he made no effort whatsoever to conceal his marijuana consumption from our corporate detective in Dortmund; indeed, he even encouraged him to join in. Mr Werne, the company director, was naturally informed daily of the operational results and ultimately issued a summary dismissal to Stefan on the basis of the written investigation report prepared by Kurtz Corporate Detective Agency Dortmund.

Note

To preserve discretion and protect the personal rights of clients and target persons, all names and locations in this case report have been altered beyond recognition.