Customs officers and police stopped a passenger arriving from Paris at Martinique’s Aimé Césaire airport in Le Lamentin on Friday 31 May 2024.[1] A suitcase coming from Paris was intercepted on arrival, in an operation involving investigators of the Office anti-stupéfiants (Ofast) and customs.[1] The baggage held 25 kilos of cannabis resin.[1] Its owner was immediately arrested by police and placed in garde à vue, French police custody.[1] The resin was packed in large thermosealed clear plastic parcels hidden in the false bottom of the suitcase, according to RCI.[2] RCI reported that the passenger had flown in from Paris Orly.[2] The suspect and the drug were handed to the Ofast Caraïbe, the anti-drug office for the French Caribbean.[2] At his hearings he reportedly told investigators he had agreed to carry the suitcase because of money debts.[2]

After his hearing he was sent to immediate-appearance proceedings before the Fort-de-France correctional court.[2] The court sentenced him to 40 months in prison.[1] He was kept in detention after the ruling.[2] He was also ordered to pay a customs fine of more than 220,000 euros.[2] The national police said the suitcase held close to 25 kg of cannabis resin and that its owner was convicted and given 40 months.[3]

Police said the case illustrated resin being imported to the Antilles by various methods, including concealment in checked baggage.[1] RCI said cannabis resin is generally exchanged for cocaine heading back to mainland France, one kilo for one kilo.[2]