On the unpretentious terrace of this brasserie in Vallauris (Alpes-Maritimes) adorned with an Italian flag, a few customers are chatting away from the curious.
On May 27, 2019, the gendarmes of the Marseille research section (SR) focused on four men who were not there to share a friendly coffee.
They must settle a dispute under the patronage of Domenico Magnoli.
Considered as one of the correspondents in France of the formidable 'Ndrangheta, Calabrian mafia reputed to be the most powerful in Europe, he is consulted as a "justice of the peace".
Two days earlier, in Arma di Taggia (Italy), a transaction involving 11 kg of cocaine failed to degenerate between the Albanians and the French Patrick Viégas, who left without paying for the merchandise estimated at 317,000 euros.
Carmelo Sgro, a close friend of 'Ndrangheta considered to be the intermediary between the French and the Albanians, relies on Domenico Magnoli to defuse the conflict.
For investigators, this "conspiratorial meeting" has the air of confirmation.
Since the seizure in June 2018 of 20 kg of grass in a rental car, they foresee the existence of a network sponsored by the Calabrian mafia.
The arrest of a mule put the gendarmes on the trail of Patrick Viégas, 32 years old.
A car hired in his mother's name escorted the attendant on his return from Spain and his wife's electronic toll contract shows that he has been to Spain at least once or twice a month in recent weeks.
Each time with rental cars.
In two years, he spent more than 30,000 euros in an agency in Antibes.
Patrick Viégas becomes a priority objective: he is followed, filmed, listened to.
Viégas and the support of the 'Ndrangheta
In a few months, the thirty-something is suspected by the courts of having bought more than 75 kg of cocaine, in particular from criminals based in Massy (Essonne).
“White” bought between 25,000 and 30,000 euros per kg and then sold for up to 40,000 euros per kg.
A profitable business.
In his apartment with sound, investigators regularly hear him counting banknotes - 165,000 euros on October 5, 2019, 283,000 euros ten days later - or telling how he hid 120,000 euros in the henhouse of a relative in Portugal.
Flambeur, Viégas drives in rental Porsche and Mercedes.
Unpredictable, he is also suspected of having mounted a robbery against traffickers in Spain.
During their investigation, the gendarmes quickly became convinced that he was at the heart of an international network of narcotics and distributed cocaine and cannabis in the Alpes-Maritimes and in Italy.
How did this 32-year-old man, long under the radar, become this presumed key player in the Côte d'Ivoire cocaine trafficking?
For the specialized interregional jurisdiction (JIRS) of Marseille, Viégas resumed the trafficking of a member of the 'Ndrangheta imprisoned in Italy and is suspected of benefiting, since, from the support of the mafia organization.
Indicted for importing narcotics in an organized gang and criminal association, he was remanded in custody.
Contacted, his lawyer declined to comment.
Two of Viégas' contacts, installed on both sides of the border, quickly interested the French and Italian authorities: Domenico Magnoli in Vallauris, Carmelo Sgro in Arma di Taggia.
Arms seller, coke buyer, matchmaker ... the anti-mafia prosecution in Genoa sees the second as a prime target.
He would be responsible for maintaining a supply of cocaine in Liguria.
For the Italians, it is also closely linked to the 'Ndrangheta, whose methods he uses.
According to telephone interceptions, it is he who will settle the conflict between Viégas and the Albanians… in particular thanks to a gun placed in the mouths of relatives of the French.
He is also very close to the Magnoli family.
“From the Calabrians”, “a family from Rosarno”, he presents them on tapping, as a token of confidence.
"Nothing can be done without them"
Magnoli.
A surname that the specialized police officers know by heart.
In recent years, two members of the family have fallen for criminal conspiracy.
They were accused of having set up a lucrative business to import cocaine between the metropolis and the West Indies.
89 kg of powder had been seized on a sailboat in 2015. Domenico Magnoli, 39, recipient according to investigators of certain shipments of Patrick Viégas, is now suspected of having taken over the business.
With what role?
"Nebulous," breaths someone close to the file.
At this level, they are never really hands in the powder, but nothing can be done without them.
And their help is never free.
He too was indicted for criminal acts and imprisoned.
Seizures made during the operation of September 15 / National Gendarmerie
Sprawling, the investigation ended on September 15 with the arrest of 46 people in France and Italy.
Investigators get their hands on 2 million euros in criminal assets.
18 people were imprisoned and "a patrimonial investigation continues", specifies the prosecutor of Marseille, Dominique Laurens.
The objective is in particular to know to what extent those close to the 'Ndrangheta were able to infiltrate the Riviera economy.
"This case confirms the presence of families close to the 'Ndrangheta in the south of France," said a person close to the case.
Now it is worth knowing how far they are implanted.
"
"They also do business in France or with the French"
For several years, the authorities have thus been alerting to the Calabrian mafia's desire to "infiltrate the legal economy of European countries little aware of the mafia phenomenon", explained a report from the PJ in 2018. "This investigation seems to confirm what Italians have been telling us for some time about the links between this organization and France, says Dominique Laurens.
We discover in this file that they also do business in France or with the French.
Long considered as a rear base used to launder Mafia money, the Côte d'Azur has also become a Mafiosi playground.
And especially cocaine trafficking.
The 'Ndrangheta is thus considered by specialized investigators as the main importer of white powder in Europe.
"They have links with the cartels and an enormous financial capacity which allows to import wholesale", blows a good connoisseur of the narcotics market.
Obviously enough to interest French traffickers who are often unable to bring such quantities into mainland France.
“We must not think of finding a sponsor behind each shipment, tempers a well-informed source.
But they have relays: either members installed in France, or local thugs who take advantage of their power.
"
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According to our information, the shadow of the Calabrian mafia thus appears in recent cocaine seizures in France.
And several investigations are underway to establish the real extent of the hold of the 'Ndrangheta on the Côte d'Azur.
