Weapons, cash and nearly €1 million worth of drugs were seized by the police.
On Thursday evening, the arrival of the Orange GIGN gendarmes was filmed by a motorist at the Alès road exit. The soldiers just took action. They arrested several individuals in a vehicle carrying narcotics.
The soldiers, at the end of a month, waited steadfastly for the delivery to take place in order to act in flagrante delicto.
This sensitive intervention comes at the end of an investigation by gendarmes of the Research Brigade of Alès (BR) and the Research Section of Nîmes (SR) operating under rogatory. A judicial inquiry was opened last December.
The prosecution is asking for pre-trial detention for six of the nine suspects
Nine individuals, aged 20 to 40, including at least one woman, were taken into police custody. According to Abdelkrim Grini, the prosecutor of Alès, it would be “Seasoned criminals, most of whom have already been convicted by the courts.”
The arrests took place in several municipalities in the Alesian basin. In the vehicle, the investigators discovered 16 kg of cocaine. In the process, many researches were conducted.
Market value of the seized drugs: almost 1 million euros
These will be successful since a significant amount of drugs is found: 150 g of cannabis, 1 kg of speed, 110 g of amphetamine, 200 g of cocaine, 170 g of ecstasy for a market value of about one million euros. From two suspects, the investigators seized €14,000 and also discovered a Glock 9 mm automatic pistol, a shotgun and a Skorpion VZ machine gun. A wide range of ammunition accompanies his weapons.
This Friday, the first seven defendants were brought before the investigating magistrate at the Alès court. The last two will be presented this Saturday. Ultimately, three suspects were placed under judicial supervision.
For the other six, the prosecutor’s office of Alès requested the placement in preventive prison. At least two individuals have been jailed. The hearing before the judge of freedom and detention ended at the end of this Thursday.
“This operation is a satisfaction, supports the prosecutor Abdelkrim Grini. The work carried out by the investigator BR and SR, the investigating judge and the prosecution paid off. This only strengthens our determination to fight against this kind of trafficking.”
A new drug arrives in Alès
Contrary to its name, pink cocaine has nothing to do with classic cocaine. This drug is made from a mixture of ketamine (anesthesia) and MDMA (ecstasy) and a pink dye.
The danger of this new product, which appeared in France in 2022, comes from its composition which can vary according to the amount of chemical molecules used.
The gram of this product, very popular in alternative party circles, is sold between €60 and €100 compared to €40 for ketamine and 60 for MDMA.
It is the first time that this type of drug appears in a case of drug trafficking in the Alès sector.