Police Drone Training Flight Uncovers Drug Stash in Vienna

A routine police drone exercise in Vienna resulted in the unexpected discovery of a suspected drug operation in the Floridsdorf district. While conducting a training flight over the Am Rollerdamm area near the Neue Donau, drone operators observed two separate groups exhibiting unusual behavior in a wooded section of the district.

Through aerial surveillance, officers noticed individuals excavating items from the ground and exchanging them among the groups. The observation prompted the drone team to alert additional police units, including service dog handlers, to the site. Upon arrival, officers witnessed one individual attempting to discard an item before trying to flee the scene by car. However, law enforcement managed to intercept and detain all individuals present before any could escape.

Subsequent identification checks were carried out on the individual in the vehicle and nine others at the location. During a search of the wooded area where the activity was observed, authorities recovered an unspecified quantity of illegal substances, believed to include cannabis and various tablets. The findings were secured as evidence for further investigation.

Initial inquiries indicated that the individual attempting to leave by car was a 42-year-old male suspected of purchasing drugs. A separate 29-year-old man, originally from Afghanistan, admitted during questioning that he intended to acquire narcotics as well. Both individuals have been reported to the appropriate authorities for their involvement.

As part of the operation, police identified three potential sellers among the group. Officers found both illegal drugs and cash in their possession. The suspects, aged 24, 31, and 37, are all Afghan nationals and were taken into custody. The confiscated substances and money were secured by the police as part of ongoing investigative procedures.

The Vienna police have stated that further investigations are underway to determine the full scope of the suspected drug operation and to establish any additional connections or individuals involved. The use of drone technology played a critical role in the detection and subsequent intervention, highlighting the expanding utility of aerial surveillance in law enforcement operations.

This incident underscores the effectiveness of advanced policing methods in uncovering illicit activities that might otherwise go undetected. Authorities continue to pursue leads in this case to dismantle any broader criminal networks associated with the discovered drug storage site.