On Monday afternoon, eight French customs officers were temporarily placed in solitary confinement after the suspicious discovery of a potentially dangerous chemical load in a van. The incident took place on the A31, a route very busy with French border workers, near Thionville.
This van coming from southern Europe and heading north, therefore potentially towards the Grand Duchy or beyond, and was carrying numerous suspicious cans and barrels. This load immediately alerted the customs authorities. As a precaution, the vehicle was escorted to the Thionville customs post, where a large deployment of emergency services specializing in chemical risks was mobilized.
Fear of deadly substances
On site, the concern was palpable, particularly due to the nature of the products. It must be said that these were in reality components used in the manufacture of extremely powerful synthetic drugs. This is why eight agents had to be isolated during the checks. The first tests raised fears of the presence of highly toxic, even fatal, substances. However, at the start of the evening, analyzes ruled out any immediate risk.
After numerous other checks, the driver was finally allowed to return to the road.
