15 arrests and nearly 1.2 million euros seized, announces the Marseille prosecutor

The investigation, undertaken by the Marseille prosecutor’s office, led to arrests as far away as the Paris region at the start of the week.

A vast operation led to the arrest of 15 suspects in Marseille, Vaucluse and Île-de-France, last Monday “as part of a drug trafficking laundering case”announces Nicolas Bessone, public prosecutor of Marseille, in a press release on Saturday November 9. Investigators from the Marseille Anti-Narcotics Office (Ofast) branch also seized nearly 1.2 million euros “in the hiding place of a van”.

The investigation, “started in the summer 2023 by the Marseille prosecutor’s office, has already allowed in September 2023 the seizure of 43 kg of cocaine as well as more than 50 000 euros and the indictment of three people”adds the prosecutor. The investigations, “which continued under the direction of an investigating judge, showed the persistence of drug trafficking despite these arrests”he continues. The investigation also “highlighted a very active and lucrative system for collecting money from drug trafficking.”

The Marseille prosecutor’s office details: “Several times a week, driving vehicles equipped with special caches, a team of drivers traveled throughout France to collect bags of tickets (containing at least several hundred thousand euros) from members of the various trafficking networks. of narcotics”. The money was then “centralized in the Paris region, before being able to proceed with its laundering through multiple companies.”

So, last Monday, “investigators from the Ofast branch in Marseille carried out 15 arrests“. More precisely, the police arrested “five Marseillais, actors in this traffic and relays for these transfers of funds“, announces prosecutor Nicolas Bessone. “They were also able to intercept two individuals in Vaucluse during the transport of the van containing the money in a convoy. Finally, with the assistance of Ofast Nanterre, eight men were arrested in Île-de-France in the organizational aspect cash transport and money launderinghe continues in his press release.

Three defendants were presented Thursday before the investigating judge. They were “indicted on counts of drug trafficking, participation in a criminal conspiracy with a view to committing offenses punishable by 10 years of imprisonment and laundering of drug trafficking”specifies the prosecution. One of them is in pre-trial detention, the other two under judicial supervision. Concerning the other suspects, “the presentations continue and requisitions for placement in pre-trial detention will be taken by the Marseille prosecutor’s office”concluded Nicolas Bessone.