3D-printed weapons workshop dismantled near Pau
Police officers discovered a garage being used to produce homemade pistols in Soumoulou. Four individuals were arrested.
3D-printed weapons workshop dismantled near Pau
Investigators from the Toulouse criminal investigation division, assisted by their counterparts from Pau, uncovered a garage converted into a weapons factory in Soumoulou, on the edge of the Hautes-Pyrénées. Four Béarn residents were taken into custody on Tuesday 9 June, suspected of operating an illegal trade in homemade pistols.
It all began with a routine traffic stop conducted in Toulouse in April. Law enforcement officers seized a pistol that appeared to be a standard Glock, but with unusually low weight. Examination revealed it was a weapon produced using three-dimensional printing technology. This seizure led to the discovery of other weapons of the same type as part of a parallel investigation into car thefts and drug trafficking.
The investigation led to a hangar in Soumoulou, between Tarbes and Pau. According to police, the suspects assembled several dozen pistols there using a 3D printer during the period from January to May 2026. These weapons were sold in the Toulouse and Pau urban areas for approximately 300 euros each, through encrypted platforms.
Two of the four suspects were remanded in custody: the one believed to be the manufacturer of the weapons and one of the distributors. Another seller, under 18 years of age, and the person who rented out the premises were released under judicial supervision. Several of them had prior criminal records.
These "ghost" pistols raise particular concern: they can fire multiple rounds and evade metal detectors. Lacking serial numbers, they are virtually impossible to trace, making them sought-after tools for criminals. Investigators are now seeking to quantify the proceeds of this trafficking operation and to identify all of the buyers.
Source: La Dépêche du Midi
Source: Google News FR — Crime (fr)