Eleven people were indicted on Friday in Rennes for drug trafficking after the seizure of 138 kilos of cocaine on Tuesday in Loire-Atlantique, the Rennes prosecutor’s office announced in a press release.
The investigation began in May 2021 in Rezé, in the suburbs of Nantes, the gendarmes suspecting the existence of drug trafficking, which turned out to be national in scope.
A judicial investigation was opened in October 2021 by the Jirs (Specialized Interregional Jurisdiction) of Rennes for drug trafficking, importation into an organized gang, participation in a criminal association with a view to committing a crime and money laundering.
15 arrests throughout France
After months of investigation, an operation mobilizing more than 200 gendarmes, police and customs officers was organized Tuesday in Loire-Atlantique, in Hauts-de-France and in Ile-de-France, giving rise to 15 arrests.
“The narcotics, cocaine and cannabis resin, purchased in large quantities, were stored near Nantes in various places: in particular garages and vehicles stored in boxes”, specifies the press release from the prosecution.
The investigators uncovered a “diversified laundering system” with investments in businesses, purchases and resales of valuable vehicles, furniture, luxury watches, travel.
Cannabis, cocaine, luxury watches…
Among those arrested, born between 1961 and 1993, eleven were indicted and five were remanded in custody.
The operation in Loire-Atlantique made it possible to seize 791 kilos of cannabis resin, 138 kilos of cocaine, luxury watches and high-end vehicles as well as more than 250,000 euros in cash and in bank accounts, and a weapon fist.
The defendants incur 10 years in prison, double in case of recidivism. This operation comes five days after the seizure of a cargo of 364 kilos of cocaine by customs in containers at the port of Montoir-de-Bretagne (Loire-Atlantique).