Full Breakdown
German Telegram Predator Network: Convictions, Ongoing Trials, and Global Implications
7/10/2026, 7:43:00 AM
The Uncovered Network
German prosecutors have dismantled an online predator syndicate that used the encrypted messaging app Telegram to coordinate drug-facilitated sexual assaults. The group, self-described as the “German driving school for experts,” consisted mainly of Chinese men targeting Chinese women living in Germany. Within roughly two dozen chat groups, members referred to victims as “cars,” sedatives as “fuel,” and rape as “driving,” and posted photos and videos of unconscious victims.
Background & Context
Investigators traced the chats back to at least 2020, but the network remained hidden until 2024 when a man in Frankfurt—identified in court documents as Dapeng Z.—shifted from assaulting acquaintances to targeting strangers met online. His change in tactics prompted police cooperation with Chinese law-enforcement agencies, leading to his arrest and the exposure of the broader network.
Key Figures & Groups
- Dapeng Z. – alleged ringleader, sentenced to 14 years for aggravated rape and attempted murder.
- Zhiting S. – medic-trained defendant, convicted as an accessory to rape and sentenced to five years.
- Inner circle – eight core perpetrators identified by attorney Magdalena Gebhard.
- Dominik Mies – Frankfurt chief prosecutor overseeing the case.
- Fu Xiao – Chinese community supporter who traveled 500 km to the Berlin courtroom.
- Judge Markus Koppenleitner – presiding judge who linked the case to a broader pattern of drug-facilitated assaults.
Timeline of Major Events
- 2020 – Earliest chat logs recorded.
- 2024 – Police become aware of the network after Dapeng Z.’s tactic shift; Dapeng Z. arrested in cooperation with Chinese authorities.
- 2024 – Europol launches “Project Medusa,” resulting in 57 arrests across Europe.
- 2025 – Telegram founder arrested in Paris on unrelated platform-abuse charges.
- Feb 2026 – Fourth defendant’s trial begins in Berlin; courtroom cleared repeatedly due to German privacy laws.
- July 2026 – Dapeng Z. sentenced; Zhiting S.’s verdict pending.
Data & Statistics
- Approximately 24 Telegram groups identified; some claimed tens of thousands of members.
- Three inner-circle members convicted; a fourth trial ongoing.
- Eight core perpetrators alleged.
- 14-year prison term for Dapeng Z.; 5-year term for Zhiting S.
- 57 arrests linked to Project Medusa.
Official Statements & Responses
Prosecutor Dominik Mies described the perpetrators as “characterized by a particular ruthlessness, an objectification of the victims, and the perfidious planning of their crimes.” Telegram issued a statement that “sexual violence is explicitly forbidden by Telegram’s terms of service and such content is routinely removed,” asserting compliance with the EU Digital Services Act.
Criticism & Opposition
Members of Germany’s Chinese community, predominantly women, have attended the trials to demonstrate solidarity, despite limited public coverage caused by strict privacy regulations. Chinese-language platform Rednote has censored direct references to the case, allowing only euphemistic language such as “date rape” or “students studying abroad in Germany.”
On-the-Ground Reports
Fu Xiao told reporters, “What makes one really angry is to see that such groups hate women, they have no respect,” underscoring community outrage.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Authorities have not disclosed the total number of victims or the full extent of the network’s membership. It remains unclear whether the German chats are linked to parallel investigations of drug-facilitated assaults in Europe and the Americas.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The perpetrators were characterized by a particular ruthlessness, an objectification of the victims, and the perfidious planning of their crimes,” — Dominik Mies, Frankfurt chief prosecutor
- “What makes one really angry is to see that such groups hate women, they have no respect,” — Fu Xiao, Chinese community supporter
- “Pelicot is not an isolated case,” — Judge Markus Koppenleitner
- “Sexual violence is explicitly forbidden by Telegram's terms of service and such content is routinely removed,” — Telegram spokesperson
What’s Next
German prosecutors indicate that the investigation remains active, with the potential for additional arrests as more chat content is examined. International cooperation, particularly with Chinese law-enforcement and Europol’s Project Medusa, is expected to continue as authorities seek to dismantle similar encrypted networks worldwide.
