Gendarmes arrested a man from Sainte-Lucie at a cabin in Le François on 9 April 2026 during a drug-trafficking investigation.[1][2] The operation was run by the François gendarmerie and the Marin research brigade, with the GIGN’s Martinique unit and the Marin intervention platoon.[3] Investigators had located the cabin, described as a place where drug users regularly came to stock up.[3][2] The GIGN was brought in because armed men were thought possibly to be guarding the site.[3] The suspect tried to flee when the GIGN arrived and was quickly caught.[3][2]

A search of the cabin found more than 5.7 kg of cannabis herb, three handguns and 58 rounds of 9 mm and .380 automatic ammunition.[1][2] The same search was also reported as yielding more than 5.7 kilos of cannabis herb, three handguns and 58 rounds.[3]

He was brought before the Fort-de-France prosecutor on Saturday 11 April 2026 and placed in pretrial detention.[1] He is to be tried in deferred immediate-appearance proceedings with a hearing expected on 18 May.[3][2] He was already banned from holding a weapon and from French territory and faces charges of drug detention and transport, category A and B weapon detention, and breaching those bans.[3]

The man had already been convicted before this arrest.[2]