The law will soon change. But in the meantime, the lawyers of people randomly checked by customs officers continue to rush into the fault. On Monday, a man checked with nearly 20 kg of cannabis resin in his car was released by the Nantes criminal court (Loire-Atlantique). According to Ocean Pressthe lawyer for this national with dual Moroccan and Spanish nationality relied on Article 60 of the Customs Code, accused of “undermining respect for privacy and the freedom to come and go”. Censored by the Constitutional Councilthe article is however still in force and will remain so until September 2023, specifies the daily.
It is on this legal loophole that the lawyer for the mis en cause relied, believing that the customs control carried out on February 6, 2023 was not regulatory because it was carried out completely randomly by the agents. The drugs had been discovered in the doors of the car. The defendant had admitted the facts, explaining that he had to convey the drugs to Rennes. On resale, the drug was valued at 150,000 euros. Placed in pre-trial detention, the man emerged free from his trial.
Several large drug seizures have been canceled in recent months for the same reasons. A new protocol is to be introduced in September.