Turkish drug dealer hopes for reduction in 12-year sentence

It was between the years 2012 and 2014 that the Zug police, in cooperation with colleagues from Hamburg, succeeded in busting a huge drug-dealing operation. As many as 55 kilogrammes of heroin were found and many people involved arrested.

It was discovered the drugs themselves emanated from Afghanistan and were then transferred to vehicles in eastern Turkey from where they made their way to Italy and then Switzerland. Court proceedings against those involved have been going on for years, yet it was only last year that one of the ringleaders, as opposed to the couriers, appeared before the Zug criminal court.

It was at this time that the 41-year-old Turkish national, who has since been held at the prison in Bostadel, was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment, less the 343 days he had already served, for several counts of offences in relation to the Narcotics Act.

While the prosecution had called for a 15-year sentence, his defence lawyers felt eight years were sufficient, arguing he was not, as was assumed, one of the ringleaders, but merely a courier.

Hence his defence lawyer has called for his sentence to be reduced, the appeal hearing to take place at Zug supreme court (photograph) on Thursday 14 June.