Cocaine, cannabis, illicit tobacco: from Toulouse to Millau, record seizures for customs since September
In two months, the regional customs service has made significant seizures as part of the fight against national and international trafficking.
Since September, the customs services of the Regional Directorate of Toulouse have multiplied seizures (narcotics, illicit tobacco, counterfeits, materials that do not meet safety standards, ivory objects, etc.), as part of the fight against major national and international trafficking.
5 kg of cocaine at Toulouse-Blagnac airport
In the most significant cases, there is that dating back to September 27, 2022 at Toulouse-Blagnac airport where agents from the customs brigade checked a passenger of Brazilian nationality. She arrived from Sao Paulo and had transited through Amsterdam (Netherlands) in possession of three glass bottles of alcohol containing liquid cocaine for a total weight of almost 5 kg.
Another record cocaine seizure, 20 kg, in October
But the customs officers at Blagnac airport do not stop there. On October 3, a seizure of approximately 20 kg of cocaine packaged in 17 identical packages wrapped in tape in the suitcase of a traveler coming from Paris and which was handed over to the Anti-Narcotics Office at the end of the customs, on instructions from the Toulouse public prosecutor’s office, for further legal enquiries. This cocaine seizure is valued at more than €800,000 on the illicit market. This is a record seizure of powdered cocaine transported in luggage, at Toulouse-Blagnac airport, and a strong blow by Blagnac customs to the trafficking of narcotics in the Toulouse region.
Manufacture of cannabis, tobacco…
Another seizure, this time on the side of the customs officers of the Millau, which as part of the fight against narcotics and illicit tobacco have chained major seizures. On September 21, by controlling a truck group coming from Morocco via Spain. The tank intrigues customs officers and the anti-narcotics service dog significantly marks this piece.
The dismantling and excavation of the tank led to the discovery of nearly 120 kg of cannabis pollen, i.e. a seizure valued at €1,200,000. The next day, this same service seized 10 Moroccan suitcases all containing cannabis pollen, for a total weight of 327 kg, in a refrigerated truck, coming from Spain. The anti-narcotics service dog had also taken a strong interest around the truck, confirming then the doubts of the customs team.
The equivalent of 9,500 packets of contraband cigarettes
This seizure is valued at €3,270,000 on the illicit market. Finally, the latest case, on October 6, 2022 where, despite the presence of an opener vehicle, Millau agents thwart the plans of a criminal organization by intercepting a vehicle loaded with 190 kg of manufactured tobacco, the equivalent 950 cartons of cigarettes or 9,500 packets of contraband cigarettes.