More than 300 kg of drugs seized. The police have dismantled a large network of cocaine traffickers operating between the French West Indies and Strasbourg, announced on Monday, Ofast, the office for the fight against drugs.
Fifteen people were arrested during an operation carried out on the night of October 25 to 26 simultaneously in Strasbourg (nine people), Guadeloupe (five) and Saint-Martin (one) in the Caribbean, detailed Lola Menahem, Head of the Ofast Judicial Division.
“In 2021, 26.5 tons of cocaine were seized”
The long-term investigation began in 2021. The investigators were able to trace the route of the traffic, from the French West Indies plate, via Le Havre, where the containers arrived, to the dealers in Strasbourg.
It was while following a cargo from this network from Le Havre to Strasbourg that the police arrested nine people who were unloading the goods in Strasbourg. Numerous searches have been carried out until this weekend. In total, “334 kg of cocaine were seized, 750 to 800,000 euros, a dozen luxury vehicles and brand jewelry,” said Lola Menahem.
“In 2021, 26.5 tonnes of cocaine were seized, 84% of seizures were transported by container. Ten tons had passed through the port of Le Havre,” said the head of the Ofast judicial division. She noted that the consumption of cocaine in France was significant and represented “600,000 consumers per year”.