Four people were indicted and imprisoned on Sunday April 11 as part of the dismantling of a network of traffickers suspected of having imported 75 tonnes of contraband cigarettes, the gendarmerie announced on Monday.
Read also: European cigarette trafficking dismantled, more than 10,000 cartridges seized
The investigation, which began at the end of 2020 under the supervision of the Jirs Specialized Interregional Jurisdiction (Jirs) of Bordeaux, relates to "
large-scale cigarette trafficking orchestrated by a team of criminals acting on a large western part of the national territory
", according to a press release from the Pays de la Loire gendarmerie.
Investigations, including conducted by investigators from the research section of the gendarmerie of Nantes, it was determined that it was "
of individuals of Eastern Europe
", "
highly mobile
" and using "
the box that they rent in several large cities of the national territory (Nantes, Bordeaux, Montpellier, Béziers) in order to supply local wholesalers
”.
"
Seven individuals involved in this criminal structure
"were arrested Friday morning in Nantes, Rodez and Montpellier, according to the press release.
Four were indicted and remanded in custody.
“
The searches carried out in various boxes made it possible to seize nearly 5 tonnes of counterfeit cigarettes.
A sum of 37,300 euros in cash is seized as well as two vehicles
”, it is specified.
In addition, "
the investigation and the evidence gathered allow to establish that the traffic allowed the importation in contraband of 75 tons of cigarettes
", specifies the gendarmerie.
