The case began in November 2022 when border guards intercepted a passenger from Mali with a genuine passport, but which turned out not to be his. The PAF police officers then discovered the existence of a network that provided foreign nationals with French identity documents.
Seven people of Malian origin, three men and four women aged between 24 and 55, identified as the network's operatives. The defendants are to be brought Thursday evening to the court of Bobigny. Investigators estimate it possible that "at least" 250 people used this system.