Cannabis drug trafficking: Dealers tried for counterfeiting

“Haribeuh”, “Nutellhash”, “Shitkers”… The bags looked exactly like the confectionery sold in supermarkets, with one notable difference: they were filled with cannabis.

Since Tuesday, the Criminal Court of Créteil (Val-de-Marne) has tried 18 defendants suspected of having participated in a drug trafficking network which offered its customers sachets of cannabis parodying the visual identity of agri-food giants.

The prosecution demanded on Thursday 10 years in prison and a fine of 50,000 euros for the accused presented as the head of the network. Sentences of 4 to 8 years in prison were requested for his supposed lieutenants.

Fifteen companies targeted

Two aspects emerge in this file: on the one hand, a deal point nicknamed “Caliterter”, well known to the investigation services of Val-de-Marne and located Place du Moutier in Villejuif, south of Paris. Dozens of its members have already been convicted during two trials which took place in Créteil in June 2022 and July 2023.

On the other, “Pochette Surprise”, an illegal marketing agency, which “Caliterter” called upon, from August 2022 to May 2023, to order the sachets, have the logos and slogans of major brands copied into them, having use a graphic designer and a printer, then redistribute the pouches.

Around fifteen companies, including Ferrero (Nutella), Haribo, Mars (Snickers) and Johnson & Johnson – its soap “Le Petit Marseillais” having been pastiched into “Le Petit Marocain” – have filed a civil claim in this lawsuit.

They complain in particular of damage to their reputation and violation of intellectual property. The turnover of this operation was estimated at 860,000 euros, indicated prosecutor Adèle Ephraïm.

“Ingenuity of the defendants”

“I would like to highlight the ingenuity of the defendants. They came to use Haribo’s reputation in the context of the sale of narcotics,” the German confectioner’s lawyer argued on Wednesday.

“It allows a competitive advantage, an increase in attractiveness, turnover, communication and profit,” continued the lawyer, who made a slip of the tongue by presenting himself as the lawyer of “Haribeuh” before recovering, sparking some laughter in the room. Our defendants have talent in marketing and I invite them to consider professional retraining in this area,” he joked.

But for the public prosecutor, “drug trafficking is not a game”. This activity represents “a fertile breeding ground for crime and all its dangers”, particularly against a young public, she asserted on Thursday during her requisitions.

Promotional videos

She presented “Pochette Surprise” as “an influence firm in addition to being a marketing company with a single goal: profit”.

In addition to the design of the packages, the occult agency produced promotional videos featuring characters from the series The Simpsons and hosted several accounts on social networks.

Four years in prison were requested against the supposed leader of “Pochette-Surprise”, who resides in Spain and did not appear. Lesser sentences were requested against the other protagonists of this illicit society.

As for “Caliterter”, the prosecutor compared its operation to that of a company with a CEO, an executive director, managers, logisticians and small hands.

The defendant presented as the leader, alternately nicknamed “Kirikou” or “Remontada Max94”, appears detained.

He was arrested during a large raid in 2022, but investigators suspect him of having continued to run the network from Meaux prison where he is incarcerated.

The hearing is scheduled to end on Friday.

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