Blindly investigated: The drug case in the Fiaker shakes Vienna!

Blindly investigated: The drug case in the Fiaker shakes Vienna!

A gripping crime drama awaits viewers this evening, July 3, 2025, at 8:15 p.m. on Das Erste. In “Blindly Investigated: Death in a Fiaker”, a feature film from Germany and Austria from 2020, the exciting and dangerous world of drugs in Vienna is illuminated. The story revolves around Alexander Haller, a blind inspector who has an eye-opening experience when he witnesses the collapse of banker Schachner, who becomes reeling after consuming cocaine laced with cyanide salt. While Haller smells the pungent smell of the bitter almonds, he is unable to see the dramatic events.

Haller's situation escalates when his sister Sophie is poisoned during mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and is fighting for her life in a critical situation in the hospital. Driven by fear for Sophie and anger about the circumstances, Alexander Haller, supported by Inspector Laura Janda, begins to investigate himself.

The trail leads to the horse-drawn carriage company

The blind inspector's investigations lead to a horse-drawn carriage company that is suspected of organizing cocaine deliveries in Vienna. Haller's driver Niko tries to infiltrate the dealer scene undercover by hiring as a coachman for Alois Maxeiner's family business. This is where things get even more complicated: Maxeiner's daughter Therese works for the suspect Laimer, and the list of suspects continues to grow. Schachner's widow Solveig, the sole heir to his fortune, and the bank manager Dr. Hohmann is targeted by the investigation.

The gripping production comes from director Katharina Mückstein and screenwriter Hans-Henner Hess, while the musical background was designed by Michael-Alexander Brandstetter and Bernhard Fleischmann. The cast includes well-known faces such as Philipp Hochmair as Alexander Haller and Florence Kasumba as Solveig Schachner.

Drug problem in Vienna

What many Viennese don't know: drug abuse has reached alarming levels in the city. There were 256 drug-related deaths in Austria in 2023, with most of them (101) recorded in Vienna. Cocaine use is increasing among younger people, and around 3.8 percent of the Austrian population have used cocaine in their lifetime. These frightening figures make the film all the more relevant as it addresses the dark side of urban living, which is often not apparent at first glance. There are numerous challenges in dealing with illegal drugs, especially in Vienna. The city has developed into a drug trafficking metropolis, which is also demonstrated by the large number of substitution offers that are particularly in demand in Vienna.

“Blindly Investigated: Death in a Fiaker” is not only a crime thriller, but also a reflection of our society that makes you think. After broadcast, the film will be available in the ARD media library for seven days, so that no one has to miss the chance to immerse themselves in the dense atmosphere of this gripping story.

If you would like to find out more about the topic of drugs in Austria, you can find out more on Statista, which offers exciting insights into the current situation.

Don't miss what's happening around the Viennese horse-drawn carriage business and the dark machinations!