An operation by Narbonne customs officers made it possible to get their hands on a large shipment of drugs, Tuesday, December 17, in the evening, on the A9 motorway, in the Spain-Narbonne direction. During a check of a van, officers discovered a sophisticated cache concealing more than 73 kilos of drugs.
A routine check that turns into a leak
The driver, a Montenegrin national, claimed to be transporting a package of marble from Spain. But a suspicious detail aroused the suspicions of customs officers: a false floor visible at the rear of the vehicle. As officers began their inspection, the driver fled on foot towards a nearby commercial area.
A cache containing cannabis and cocaine
After several hours of searching, the fugitive was found and taken to the Narbonne brigade. A thorough search of the vehicle revealed a cache under the floor, containing several heat-sealed bags. Inside, customs officers discovered 63.34 kilos of herbal cannabis and 10.54 kilos of cocaine, representing a significant seizure.
Swift and severe sentencing
Placed in customs detention, the man was handed over to the Anti-Narcotics Office (OFAST) in Perpignan before appearing, two days later, before the Narbonne judicial court. He was sentenced to three years in prison, with continued detention, as well as being banned from entering French territory for ten years. In addition, he will have to pay a customs fine of 901,345 euros.
Fight against traffic on the Spain-France axis
This seizure once again illustrates the importance of the A9 motorway in drug trafficking networks between Spain and France. Thanks to their vigilance and expertise, customs officers continue to deal significant blows to traffickers, securing this major route.
Source : France 3
(Thank you Yann Bourguignon)
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