The quantities of drugs discovered are impressive, they even constitute a record. Investigators from the Anti-Narcotic Office seized 1.4 tonnes of cocaine in several towns in Martinique at the end of last week, the Fort-de-France prosecutor’s office announced on Tuesday.
Six men were arrested and indicted for importing narcotics in an organized group, criminal conspiracy and illegal possession of weapons. The investigation conducted under the authority of the specialized interregional jurisdiction (JIRS) of Fort-de-France and started in 2018 allowed investigators to also get their hands on 40 kg of cannabis resin, 9 handguns and a rifle. large caliber.
“It’s not a fluke”
“It’s a great court case. It is a real job for investigators, ”said Clarisse Taron, prosecutor of Fort-de-France. “It is not a fluke.” The merchandise was intended for the French and European market. Its resale value has been estimated at 45 million euros.
The six suspected traffickers arrested are between 39 and 56 years old. All are known to the courts for drug trafficking offenses. Two of them have been sentenced in the past to terms of 12 and 6 years in prison for similar acts. “These are experienced people and repeat offenders who engaged in very organized delinquency,” commented the prosecutor.
Numerous seizures in the second half of the year
Presented to an investigating judge on Monday afternoon, the six suspects were remanded in custody at the Ducos penitentiary center, in the center of the island.
In Martinique, the police increased the number of major seizures in the second half of the year. About 4.5 tonnes of cocaine have been intercepted from or on Martinique territory since June 2021.