France: International synthetic drug production network dismantled

 

An international synthetic drug manufacturing network has been dismantled, according to an announcement by the Marseille public prosecutor’s office on Saturday with around 15 people arrested in southern France and Belgium, and eight charged.  

 

The operation, initiated on Monday following months of investigations led by the specialised interregional jurisdiction (JIRS) of Marseille, was prompted by the arrest in June 2024 of two individuals in the Var region with 215 kg of methamphetamine. This haul alone matches the total annual seizures typically made in France in recent years, highlighted Marseille prosecutor Nicolas Bessone in a statement. 

Following these arrests, the investigation revealed that 400 kg of methamphetamine were produced in spring 2024 at a laboratory set up from scratch in a luxurious property in the Var hinterland, according to the prosecutor.  

The raw materials, mostly sourced from China, were shipped by sea and then by road to businesses in Var, where the network had strong logistical support. The retail value of the operation was estimated to exceed €11 million. 

The two individuals arrested in June 2024 were linked to the Var criminal underworld and collaborated with a Mexican cartel, as stated by Mr Bessone. Investigators also identified distribution channels involving intermediaries based in Spain and Belgium, as well as the use of cryptocurrencies for fund transfers. 

The judicial operation launched on Monday resulted in the arrest of 15 individuals, primarily in Var. Notably, one of the key figures in the network was apprehended in Belgium by the Liège judicial police as part of a mutual legal assistance request. 

Raids led to the seizure of cash, three vehicles, luxury leather goods, numerous mobile phones, and electronic equipment used to detect surveillance systems employed by law enforcement. 

Abandoned equipment was also discovered at the Var hinterland villa that housed the methamphetamine production lab. 

Following interviews, 8 of the 15 individuals arrested have already been charged, primarily for organized importation, production, and international trafficking of narcotics, along with various forms of money laundering. Six were remanded in custody, and two were placed under judicial supervision. 

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