The year 2022 has been “particularly rich” for customs officers in Marseille. At the head of the gondola, the fight against narcotics, with a record seizure of 1.7 tonnes of cocaine at the port. “Unheard of” points out Jean-Philippe Vigot, regional director of customs in Marseille, at the head of more than 400 agents. During a press conference, held on Wednesday, he returned to these four significant operations. “When we manage to identify four shipments over a year, including three of more than 500 kg, it is obviously because there is a subject, he says. Marseille, and the port of Marseille in particular, is no longer spared by the massive arrivals of cocaine. »
Why such an increase in cocaine seizures in Marseille?
These major seizures are unheard of so far on the port. This means that criminal organizations have seen a real interest in bringing narcotics, and in particular cocaine, through the port of Marseille. This brings Marseille closer to the trends that can be observed in the ports of Northern Europe, and Le Havre in particular with regard to France, where almost 10 tonnes of cocaine were seized in 2022. There is a mechanical offset . From the moment when, in a place, important findings are made, criminal organizations have a natural tendency to study other ways of conveying the products. This is undoubtedly one of the reasons why we were able to carry out this type of seizure last year in Marseille.
Is there a link to be made with a local demand that would be more important?
I wouldn’t correlate. The last significant seizure of cocaine in the port of Marseille dates back to 2020. When we have such a progression compared to a staggering market which is generally stable, or slightly on the rise but certainly not in the same proportions as the progression of seizures, this means that we have work and organizational methods that allow us to be more efficient in the narcotics register. We have put in place a reinforced targeting structure which allows us, before the arrival of the containers, to target the shipments which seem worth checking to us. We also have technical means and canine teams that allow us to complete this system in the field.
Where does the cocaine seized at the port come from?
The cocaine comes from South America and the West Indies. These are the production or logistics routing areas, directly or with transhipment. Obviously we think of Colombia, but we must not forget Venezuela, which is a major supplier and is undoubtedly the most important starting point for cocaine. All these products which arrive directly from the production areas are, beyond the quantities, often extremely pure. For 1.7 tons of pure cocaine which is sold afterwards at retail, with successive cuttings, we are rather between 5 and 6 tons of products for the final consumer. We talk a lot about cocaine but there is also cannabis resin, other narcotic products of the GHB type transported by express freight. These shipments made via logistics platforms are increasingly used, and this digital border is increasingly an issue for us. All these trends are confirmed for the first quarter of 2023.