Major Arrests in Marseille Linked to an Extensive Cocaine Trafficking Network
In the culmination of a meticulous investigation, individuals suspected of being at the heart of a significant cocaine distribution network were apprehended in various locations such as Marseille, Nice, and Lisbon, Portugal. This update comes from Philippe Astruc, the public prosecutor of Rennes.
Conducted by the Rennes interregional specialized jurisdiction (JIRS), this investigation commenced in May 2022 following a unique seizure in La Rochelle: 125 kilograms of cocaine concealed in the water tank of a ship arriving from Brazil. The vessel, sailing under a Liberian flag, originally carried a cargo of paper pulp loaded in the port of Santos. The drugs, divided into three parcels, exhibited an exceptionally high level of purity, indicating the need for further cutting before distribution. Expert analyses by the Rennes judicial police ascertained that this was not the first time Brazilian ships delivered cocaine, identifying at least two other suspicious shipments prior to the one intercepted on the "Great Sea."
Coordinated Seizure Operation and Arrests
A series of synchronized arrests took place on December 12, leading to the detention of six people located in Marseille, Nice, and Lisbon. Law enforcement in the Marseille region seized various valuable items, including high-end watches, luxury automobiles, and ammunition belonging to categories B and C. Simultaneously, in Portugal, a substantial sum of 125,000 euros in cash, a Mercedes vehicle, and a boat were recovered by authorities.
The individuals arrested in France are French citizens, ranging in age from 20 to 42 years old. Among them, one person is already well-known to the judicial system for drug trafficking offenses, and another has previously been tried in the Bouches-du-Rhône Assize Court for an undisclosed crime. As for the Portuguese nationals, they will soon face a judge. Following these arrests, all the French suspects were indicted and placed in pre-trial detention.
This case highlights the ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking networks operating between France and Brazil, emphasizing the involvement of different French regions such as Ille-et-Vilaine in Brittany, Alpes-Maritimes in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA), as well as the presence of such networks in the PACA region, Marseille, and Bouches-du-Rhône. The discovery of this cocaine quantity in La Rochelle illustrates the complexity and scale of these illegal operations, which are subject to active monitoring and suppression by police and justice services.
