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By updating drug trafficking in the Nantes region in 2021, Rezé investigators certainly did not have in mind that part of the money generated was financing real estate in Spain.
Thanks to long-term work subsequently carried out by the Nantes research section and the Loire-Atlantique interministerial research group, under the supervision of the JIRS (specialized interregional jurisdiction) of Rennes, four men were indicted on March 2 and 3 in the “
laundering
” section of money linked to the dismantling of international drug trafficking.
Read also "They offered me 20,000 euros per bag discovered": in the Cotentin, the mysterious bales of cocaine stranded arouse the lust of the bosses
Last May, arrests were carried out jointly in Ile-de-France, Hauts-de-France and Loire-Atlantique, mobilizing more than 200 gendarmes.
In department 44, 791kg of cannabis had been found, but also 138kg of cocaine, high-end vehicles, luxury watches, more than €250,000 in cash and on accounts, luxury clothing and furniture, a handgun, a bulletproof vest and a money counter.
This major dragnet had led to the arrest of 15 people, some of whom had been placed in pre-trial detention.
Fight against drugs: what results in Loire-Atlantique?
According to the Loire-Atlantique prefecture, cannabis
seizures
jumped by
+138.52%
between 2021 and 2022, those of
cocaine
by
+132.16%
, those of heroin by
+276.14%
.
The number of deal points dismantled increased by
+368.06%
and fixed criminal fines for drug use raised by +
116.51%
in one year.
Once this operation was carried out, the investigators wondered what the cash found could be used for.
Their investigations led them to the
“financing of a property in Spain for the use of the head of the French network”.
The money transited “
via construction companies including shell companies and/or intermediary individuals, all of French nationality”
.
According to the information communicated by the Rennes magistrate, more than 400,000 euros were sent over three years to a Spanish company, in charge of building the villa.
Luxury furniture was also purchased.
Read alsoNantes: prison closed for three men who exploited undocumented migrants to sell drugs
These discoveries therefore led to the arrest of four men and a woman aged 31 to 45 last week, accompanied by new seizures of money, watches and luxury vehicles.
“
A lot of evidence has been obtained through effective cooperation with Spain.
The four indicted, specializing in company management, were referred for the following counts: "
laundering the proceeds of the unauthorized importation of narcotics into an organized gang and the proceeds of the crime of drug trafficking
",
"participation in association
of criminals with a view to committing a crime
” and
“participation in a
association of criminals with a view to committing an offense punishable by ten years' imprisonment
.
These individuals, who had no significant criminal record, were placed under judicial control.
They face ten years in prison and a criminal fine of €750,000.
Investigators are continuing their search.
