A music rapper from Germany has been jailed for more than six years for trafficking and smuggling huge amounts of drugs.
The 37-year-old musician identified as Ivo Vieira Silva, but known in media as ’18 Karat’, was sentenced to six years and three months in prison for drug trafficking and smuggling on Tuesday, 20th December.
In addition to the prison sentence, the Dortmund district court fined Silva with EUR 239,940 (GBP 210,217) which he had reportedly earned from his crimes.
The rapper began his career after he released several music videos through the Supremos Records label’s YouTube channel in 2015.
He reportedly came up with his stage name after appearing with a EUR 3,500 (GBP 3,000) golden mask in his first videos and continued to do so over the years.
When asked why he appears with a golden mask in his clips, 18 Karat said: “I am a boy from the street and I am not yet completely out of the street and still have a lot to hide.”
Silva was arrested after the police broke into about 20 apartments, houses and business premises in the city of Dortmund, in Germany, on suspicion of drug trafficking in June 2022.
They reportedly caught the offender after they found 11 kilogrammes (24 lbs) of marijuana, about EUR 19,000 (GBP 16,600) in cash and ecstasy in the raided locations.
In addition, they also discovered two professional cannabis plantations where Silva reportedly grew 66 plants himself.
The search was reportedly initiated after French investigators cracked messages exchanged via the Encrochat messenger, also known as the ‘WhatsApp for criminals’, in 2020.
Dortmund Police Chief Gregor Lange then stated: “Through persistent and meticulous investigative work, we were able to uncover several groups of organized criminals in Dortmund and deal them a serious blow.”
Investigations showed that Silva had smuggled the drugs from the city of Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, and sold it between 26th March, 2020 and 21st June, 2022.
He later confessed to having smuggled drugs with an accomplice identified as friend Kai G., 42, and said: “It was all about the thrill of turning lyrics into reality.”
At the latest trial hearing, a court spokesperson said: “The defendant has been convicted of importing and trafficking drugs in large quantities.”
After the end of the trial, his fiancee Maya, aged 29, said on social media: “Don’t be angry with me that I will be a little inactive for now, I will need this time.”
She also stated that the rapper will “not come back for the time being” and refused to give further explanations.
The verdict is not yet legally binding and can be appealed.
