A 38-year-old Catholic priest in Austria has confessed to producing crystal meth in his parish rectory.
Authorities arrested the priest, originally from Poland, along with a 30-year-old Iraqi citizen from Vienna, last week. The suspects are currently in pretrial detention, reported CNA Deutsch.
Police spokesman Stefan Loidl told ORF NO News that investigators from the State Criminal Police Office, following an order by the public prosecutor’s office, searched the rectory.
They seized chemicals and laboratory equipment intended for producing methamphetamine. “The accused may have used them to produce methamphetamine in order to sell it afterwards,” said Loidl.
The Diocese of St. Pölten has suspended the priest, prohibiting him from carrying out any pastoral activities. A spokesman for the Warsaw Archdiocese, where the priest is originally from, confirmed that diocesan authorities in Poland have been informed. “The diocesan authorities will soon take the necessary legal and canonical measures,” the spokesman said told ORF No news also.
Initial findings suggest the drug production was in its early stages when authorities intervened.
The police investigation is ongoing, with the Krems public prosecutor’s office confirming the arrest and detention of both suspects.
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