German court's drug lab verdict partially appealed

A German court's verdict against three men for their involvement in a major drug laboratory in Erfurt has been partially appealed, leaving only one man's six-year prison sentence definitively upheld. The state prosecutor's office and the defense for one of the main defendants, who received a 14-year sentence, have lodged appeals with the court.

The court in Erfurt had found the three men guilty of multiple drug offenses on July 16. Judges determined they engaged in large-scale trafficking of cannabis and other drugs, sometimes as part of a gang. Evidence suggests they produced at least 40 kilograms of crystal meth in a professionally equipped "drug kitchen" in Erfurt between mid-2020 and February 2022.

Most of the defendants confessed during the trial. Six months of each sentence are considered already served. Previous convictions from another drug case against the men were also factored into the sentencing. While the prosecution sought slightly longer sentences, the defense lawyers argued for shorter ones. The appeals mean the final legal status of the 14-year and 13-year, six-month sentences remains uncertain.