Twelve suspects were arrested simultaneously in mainland France and Martinique without particular incident.[1] The main organizer was acting directly from his prison cell and has since been placed in an organized-crime detention unit.[1] Criminal cells that imported cannabis into Martinique and cocaine to mainland France were dismantled in an operation led by the anti-drugs office Ofast, the Versailles gendarmerie Research Section and Junalco.[1] The flows ran in both directions, with cannabis sent from mainland France to Martinique and cocaine carried back to the continent.[2]
More than a tonne of cannabis was seized in Martinique, described as an absolute record.[1] The case began with a 2024 customs seizure of nearly 500 kilos of cannabis at the port of Fort-de-France.[1] Several military-grade weapons, vehicles, clothing and tens of thousands of euros in cash were seized during the arrests.[1] Investigators also traced nearly 500,000 euros spread across different bank accounts.[1] In Martinique, where cannabis consumption is rising sharply, a kilo sells for 5,000 to 6,000 euros, more than cocaine.[1]
A year of investigation, tailing and surveillance led police to one of France’s most-wanted trafficking networks.[1] Investigators linked the network to a trafficker on Ofast’s national Top list of the 50 most dangerous narco-criminals in the country.[1] After surveillance, telephone interceptions and tailing, police spotted a new drug shipment leaving the port of Le Havre in Normandy.[1] The total cannabis intercepted was well over a tonne, a new record for an operation involving Martinique.[2] Ofast treats the roundup as a historic case.[1] The roundup is expected to slow cannabis trafficking in the overseas territory for a time.[1]
