Large-scale drug trafficking in Gard: “140,000 euros per week”, eight suspects imprisoned

Since Tuesday, the suspects have been brought before the Alès courthouse. Midi Libre – Alexis Béthune

Police and members of the prosecution service satisfied with the results of the investigations. Midi Libre – F. A.

The prosecution service and the police are satisfied with the operation that led to record seizures of drugs and money in Alès.

After a year of investigation, the police had planned a substantial operation to arrest twelve people suspected of a large-scale drug trafficking operation in the Cévennes district of Alès. “If the unit had not been taken to ensure the security of the Pope in Corsica, we would have had the assistance of the RAID this Monday”, assures an investigator from the judicial police (PJ).

Following the referrals that have taken place since Tuesday, this Thursday evening, prosecutor Abdelkrim Grini, his deputy Quentin Larroque in charge of drug-related cases, commissioner Florent Ravel, head of the Interdepartmental Service of the judicial police (SIPJ), and the head of the organized and specialized crime division (DCOS) gave a reminder of the facts: “This is a long-term job that the police have carried out. The investigation began in December 2022, and a judicial investigation into drug trafficking and money laundering in April 2024.”

Suspects involved in drugs and armed violence

According to our information, the wiretapping carried out as part of the assassination of Mérouane in October 2022 would have directed investigators towards this large-scale trafficking in the Cévennes district, but which irrigated other sectors of the Alès district.

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“Over the course of the investigations, a large-scale network emerged with its leader, his right-hand man (a member of his family), lieutenants and small hands.”

According to the prosecutor, the daily income from this trafficking “is in the order of €11,000 to €18,000. That is Approximately €140,000 per week.”

This Monday, at 6 am, 70 national police officers from the PJ, including around twenty members of the Research and Intervention Brigade (BRI) to form the assault columns, and the reinforcement of 25 municipal police officers, operating under the authority of the investigating judge of Alès, intervene simultaneously. Homes in the districts of Rochebelle, Tamaris, the Faubourg d'Auvergne and, above all, in the Cévennes are searched after the destruction of the entrance door.

Record seizures of products and money

Twelve people are taken into custody. “Eight of them were indicted and placed in pre-trial detention, indicates the prosecutor. Investigators seized 20 kg of cannabis and 4.5 kg of cocaine from a nanny. The street value of the seized drugs is estimated at more than €1 million. Nearly €50,000 in cash was discovered: €10,000 at the home of the alleged leader of the network, €3,650 at a family member's, and around €35,000 at the lieutenants'.”

Most of the suspects are known to the courts for drug-related cases. Three of those charged were even implicated, then tried and convicted in April 2022 in the shooting at the Quai Bilina tearoom in October 2019.

The Gir mobilized to detect money laundering operations

The investigations are continuing under rogatory commission, with, in particular, the joint referral to the Interministerial Research Group (Gir) for the patrimonial and financial aspect of the case. Investigators are trying to demonstrate that the accused carried out money laundering operations to hide their profits.

In the Cévennes district, the sale of narcotics was apparently not disrupted for very long. The day after the spectacular police operation, police officers from the Alès police station arrested a cannabis seller again.

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