We all love a good meal out. Surprisingly, it’s not uncommon for restaurants to serve drugs as well as food. This week’s Weird and Wacky Wednesdays is all about how some restaurant operators got caught up in criminal activity and another restaurant owner who was wrongly arrested, perhaps because the police are starting to think restaurants are a front for crime. Let’s dive into the latest oddities in the world of dealing and dining.
1. A Side of Cocaine with Your Pizza?
In a bizarre case from western Germany, a pizzeria found itself at the centre of a drug operation. If you ordered item number 40 off the menu, you weren’t just getting a pizza—you were also getting a flap of cocaine. After a tip-off from food inspectors, police began watching the restaurant, eventually raiding the manager’s apartment.
In true comedic fashion, when officers arrived at his door, the manager tried to throw a bag of drugs out the window, only for it to fall right into the arms of the police waiting below. They found more drugs, cannabis, and a hefty sum of cash. Weeks later, the investigation led to the discovery of a large-scale drug ring, resulting in multiple arrests.
Around 150 officers were involved in raids across several locations, uncovering cannabis plantations and weapons. The pizzeria’s manager was rearrested while trying to flee the country, but perhaps the most surprising detail? Item 40 was one of the restaurant’s best-selling pizzas.
2. Fentanyl Pizza in Edmonton
Closer to home, Edmonton police uncovered an even more dangerous operation at Day and Night Pizza, a 24-hour restaurant that served more than just food—it was also a front for drug trafficking. After an undercover investigation, officers discovered that the restaurant owner, Safeer Nazir, was trading fentanyl for stolen goods like cheese and alcohol. Police raided the restaurant and found prepackaged fentanyl hidden inside pizza boxes.
Nazir pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges and, despite being a first-time offender, was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison. His father, who co-owned the restaurant, was also charged but was deemed unfit to stand trial due to health issues.
Nazir’s lawyer argued that the amount of drugs involved was relatively small, but the courts didn’t take the crime lightly, especially given the devastating effects of fentanyl on society. Nazir expressed remorse for his actions, claiming he had turned his life around and dedicated time to volunteering at a food bank. Nonetheless, the judge handed him a prison sentence, saying it was necessary to deter others from engaging in similar crimes.
3. Laundering Money and Cooking the Books in Canberra
Over in Canberra, Australia, the Courgette restaurant wasn’t just about fine dining—it was also part of a sprawling money laundering scheme involving luxury cars, fake wages, and drugs. At the heart of it was restaurant owner James Mussillon and his co-conspirator, Mohammed Al Mofathel. The two ran an elaborate operation where Al Mofathel funneled money through the restaurant, disguising it as wages. But that was only the beginning.
Al Mofathel was also caught trafficking 21 kilograms of cannabis, and police uncovered large sums of cash and expensive vehicles—including a Lamborghini—during their investigation. Phone intercepts revealed conversations where the two discussed their financial dealings, including arguments over who truly owned the Lamborghini.
Mussillon, who initially lied in court to cover up their scheme, eventually pleaded guilty to money laundering and perjury. He was sentenced to nearly four years, while Al Mofathel received a longer sentence of seven years.
4. Mistaken Identity and a Humiliating Arrest
Not all restaurant owners are involved in crime, but sometimes they still get caught up in it—just ask Darnell McCloud, a Black restaurant owner from Ohio. McCloud was wrongfully arrested in front of his customers because police mistook him for a drug trafficking suspect who happened to share his first name. Bodycam footage shows McCloud pleading his innocence, but officers ignored him and dragged him off to jail. After 30 minutes in custody, police realised they had the wrong man.
McCloud was humiliated in front of his customers. While the police have apologized, McCloud’s experience is a stark reminder that not every restaurant owner is hiding something—sometimes, they’re just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
From pizzas hiding drugs to restaurants laundering money, not all eateries are what they seem. But before you start suspecting your local pizzeria of illicit dealings, remember—sometimes, it’s just an innocent mistake, as in the case of Darnell McCloud.
Here’s hoping your next pizza delivery comes with cheese, pepperoni, and no drugs.
