DIASPORA

SERBS AND BOSNIANS WERE THE MAIN “GARDENERS” OF DRUGS WORTH €4.5 MILLION: Special forces raided a mega-plantation in Vienna, seized a ton of marijuana and piles of cash!

by Serbian Times11. June 2026.11. June 2026.

A massive cannabis-growing facility was uncovered in Vienna’s Liesing district (Wien-Liesing). The special police unit WEGA stormed the operation, seized astonishing quantities of drugs and carried out a series of arrests.

Investigators from the FREY task force successfully located and dismantled the criminal group as part of an operation codenamed “Psycho.”

The name of the police operation was not chosen by chance – one of the main suspects was nicknamed “Psychonaut” because of his extremely controlling behavior.

The criminal network operated a highly professional indoor marijuana plantation spanning as much as 3,200 square meters, with the product later being sold on the streets. The investigation into the group had been ongoing since the end of 2024, and the criminals used the existing infrastructure of a former legal CBD production factory for the illegal cultivation of marijuana.

Illegal Balkan “gardeners” arrested

The main strike against the drug clan and the special forces raid took place on September 9, 2025. With the support of heavily armed WEGA officers, nine workers serving as “gardeners” were arrested inside the facility. It was established that the arrested workers were citizens of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina and that they had been residing in Austria completely illegally.

Three Austrian citizens aged 42, 46 and 55 were identified as the main organizers. They are accused of drug production, storage, worker recruitment and narcotics distribution. One of the main suspects was arrested in Croatia and was finally extradited to Austria in February 2026.

Millions in cash, gold and weapons

When police officers entered the premises, they were met with a shocking scene. During the large-scale operation, around one ton of cannabis with an estimated street value of a staggering €4.5 million was seized, along with an incredible €1.4 million in cash. In addition, police confiscated gold, valuables, forged documents, as well as a Glock pistol that had been the subject of a wanted notice.

Inside the halls and warehouses, authorities discovered as many as 9,720 cannabis plants, around 300 kilograms of already harvested marijuana, and another 500 kilograms of product that had been packaged and was ready for sale.