An international network that smuggled cocaine and cannabis from Belgium and Morocco has been dismantled in France and 22 people arrested, the Office of the Public Prosecutor in Marseille said on Friday.
The bust, which resulted from a major investigation led from Marseille, netted the suspected leader of the network along with a "major Marseille drug baron," Marseille Prosecutor Dominique Laurens said.
The two were among 22 people aged 21 to 59 years arrested in the operation, conducted in five French departments on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The network imported “large quantities of cocaine from Belgium and large quantities of cannabis from Morocco,” before selling the drugs in the Paris, Occitanie, Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur and Bourgogne-Franche-Comté regions, the prosecutor's office stated.
Some 291 kgs. of cannabis resin, 13 kgs. of cocaine, nearly €130,000 in cash, two weapons, 10 vehicles and two luxury watches were seized during this week's operation.
Judicial investigations have been opened on seven of the 22 suspects, including for importing narcotics in a criminal gang and money laundering. Five were remanded into custody. Seven others had yet to appear before the investigating judge.
The investigation was launched in Marseille in March.
