The mayor of the small town of Avallon (central-eastern France) has been under investigation on Wednesday as part of an investigation for "drug trafficking" and placed in provisional detention.
The police intervention comes after 70 kg of cannabis and nearly a kilogram of cocaine were discovered, mainly in the mayor's home. Preliminary investigations began in October 2023, which led to the implication of the mayor Jamilah Habsaoui’s two brothers. "They allegedly bought and resold drugs regularly from their sister’s home", stated the Auxerre Public Prosecutor, Hugues de Phily.
Searches carried out at the homes of those involved, as well as the pharmacy where Habsaoui works and Avallon’s town hall, resulted in the seizure of substantial amounts of drugs. "70 kg of cannabis resin, 983 grams of cocaine", €7,143 in cash, and two gold bars were seized primarily from the Mayor’s residence, said de Phily.
Of the six individuals who were arrested – including the mayor Habsaoui – five have been detained and one was placed under judicial supervision. The mayor and six other individuals were arrested on Sunday. Habsaoui's lawyer Antoine Audard did not respond to requests for comment from AFP.
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Jamilah Habsaoui, aged 46 and a former member of the Socialist Party, is also a regional councillor in charge of rural affairs for Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. She is a prominent supporter of the socialist president Marie-Guite Dufay.
Often cited as a figure of integration, Habsaoui grew up in social housing quite different to Avallon, a village of 6,000 residents with typical Burgundy architecture. She works as a pharmacy assistant at the neighbourhood pharmacy.
