INFO THE DEPECHE. Eleven people arrested near Toulouse suspected of being involved in major drug trafficking
A large wave of arrests took place this Tuesday morning in the department. The gendarmes arrested eleven people suspected of running a major drug trade between Spain and Toulouse. Nearly 50 kilos of narcotics were seized as well as 25,000 euros in cash.
This is the result of more than one investigation and monitoring. The gendarmes of the Mirail research brigade uncovered a large network of narcotics importers in the west of Toulouse. After delicate investigations, the gendarmes understand that this Tuesday morning is a key day in an investigation launched for almost a year. This Tuesday morning, the investigators observe a convoy made up of three vehicles including a heavy goods vehicle. The military suspect the drug transporter truck.
A few kilometers from Toulouse, the gendarmes noticed that the convoy split in two. The truck takes the direction of Gard while the two other vehicles are heading towards the Toulouse conurbation. Members of a GIGN branch arrested the three vehicles in the town of Tournefeuille. Supported by teams from the Toulouse Saint-Michel gendarmerie company, the Security and Intervention Platoon as well as three dog teams, eight people suspected of being linked to this traffic were arrested in the department. The driver of the heavy goods vehicle was intercepted in the Gard thanks to the support of the Lunel motorized brigade and the Grand Gallargues motorway platoon. These eleven individuals were taken into custody. They are currently being heard by the gendarmes. At the end, they should be referred this Friday to the Toulouse prosecutor’s office and presented to the investigating judge. The latter could decide to indict them, in particular for the importation and trafficking of narcotics in organized gangs.
Several weapons and nearly 25,000 euros
This vast operation made it possible to get hold of 35 kilos of narcotics, including 29 kilos of cannabis herb and more than 5 kilos of resin. 25,000 euros in cash were also found. A substantial seizure which is also accompanied by the discovery of seven weapons including three long guns and four handguns. Seven vehicles were also deposited for a total of nearly 120,000 euros in criminal assets
Among the arrested, a woman, suspected of being involved in trafficking. According to the first elements of these investigations taking place under letters rogatory and led by the examining magistrate Fabrice Rives, these people flooded Toulouse and its outskirts with grass and cannabis resin. In order to be able to supply the network, they got their supplies in Spain. These managers went through the services of a carrier which operated round trips between Spain and a town in the Toulouse suburbs. Once the truck, loaded on average with about thirty kilos, had crossed the border, the drugs were given to other small hands and then redistributed in the resale circuit. For the time being, the gendarmes have managed to trace a dozen journeys between France and Spain.