The trial against five Lithuanians started on Tuesday in Vestre Innlandet district court. According to the prosecution, they belong to an organized criminal group that has imported, produced and traded large quantities of drugs. The men are charged under the so-called mafia section. Prosecutor: Significant amount Previously, a man was sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment in the Oslo district court in connection with the same investigation. PROSECUTOR: State prosecutor Johan Petter Bærland is the prosecutor in the major drug case in the Vestre Innlandet district court. Photo: Frode Meskau / news – Charges have been brought for a serious drug crime involving a very significant amount. In addition, the charge is that the business has taken place as part of an organized criminal group. This is what state attorney Johan Petter Bærland says to news. A full six weeks have been set aside in court to deal with the extensive case. 33-year-old main defendant A 33-year-old man from Lithuania appears to be the main man. According to the prosecution, he has produced, stored or sold approx. 143.9 kg of amphetamine sulphate and stored approx. 4.8 kg of amphetamine base. – Several countries in Europe report that they are uncovering laboratories that intend to convert amphetamine base into amphetamine sulphate, said prosecutor Johan Petter Bærland in his introductory speech. DEFENDER: Lawyer Nils Christian Nordhus is defending a 33-year-old Lithuanian who appears to be the main man in the drug case. Photo: Alexander Nordby / news Four other Lithuanians are together with the 33-year-old accused of helping to process or deal in drugs. The prosecution believes that the five men on two occasions produced or traded 50.3 kg and 29.6 kg of amphetamine sulphate, respectively. In total, the prosecution therefore believes that a total of 223.8 kg of amphetamine has been produced. This must have taken place during the years 2020 and 2021. When the criminal case starts in Lillehammer on Tuesday, the 33-year-old and three of the men denied any form of criminal guilt. One of the defendants pleaded partially guilty. The police hacked the communication Police cooperation between several countries led to the disclosure. In 2019 and 2020, French, Dutch and Belgian police managed to hack into two encrypted communication platforms called Encrochat and Sky ssc. Several criminal groups are said to have used these platforms to send messages between themselves. Over 1,000 people worldwide are said to have been arrested as a result of this investigative work. The Norwegian police, via their colleagues abroad, also gained access to messages sent via these platforms. This allowed them to see what was communicated between criminals in Norway. It has led to several arrests – and it also put the police on the trail of the house outside Lena in Østre Toten. In the basement, what has been described as an amphetamine laboratory was discovered. The police believe that amphetamine was produced or stored on a large scale in another house on Toten as well. BASEMENT: In this basement room of the house in Østre Toten, the police found large quantities of amphetamine products and raw materials for such production. Photo: The police Seized the train The prosecution will ask the district court to confiscate equipment that has been seized from two of the accused Lithuanians. The seizure consists of, among other things, a train consisting of a Man tractor and a trailer, a Volkswagen Golf, a Toyota car, a garage, NOK 100,000 in cash and several mobile phones. The investigation into the case was completed in autumn 2021. But it has taken time to bring it up to court. The reason is that there has been disagreement about what evidence can be presented. A LOT OF POLICE: In connection with the trial, there are many officers from the police in and around the court in Lillehammer. Photo: Alexander Nordby / news The Supreme Court has therefore dealt with the question of whether investigative material obtained through the digital service Encrochat could be used as evidence in a Norwegian criminal case. – There have been two rounds of adjournments due to the fact that the defenders demanded parts of the evidence be cut off. It has now been clarified. The Supreme Court’s appeal committee decided in January that this evidence can be used in our case, says state attorney Johan Petter Bærland.
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Revealed amphetamine laboratory at Toten – five Lithuanians indicted in Vestre Innlandet district court – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
