Trial in Bayonne: nine defendants in drug network linked to Morocco
Nine suspects are appearing in Bayonne for the importation of cocaine and cannabis from Morocco. The network allegedly carried out around thirty consignments between 2023 and 2024.
Franco-Moroccan drug network: trial opens in Bayonne
Nine individuals suspected of importing cocaine and cannabis from Morocco appeared on Tuesday 2 June before the Bayonne criminal court. According to bladi.net, the case follows the dismantling of a structured international network that was active between November 2023 and May 2024.
At the centre of the logistical operation, the investigation identified two Moroccan brothers aged 38 and 47, residing in Irún. They coordinated the transport of goods from Morocco and ensured the crossing of the Spanish border with the assistance of accomplices. The two men were arrested by Basque police with one hundred kilogrammes of cannabis on board their vehicle.
The network allegedly carried out around thirty consignments over this period. Distribution subsequently extended to the Landes, where one of the dealers concealed 180,000 euros in cash, buried directly in the soil of his garden.
The investigation was initiated in May 2023, following a cocaine transaction observed in the car park of a shop in Anglet. Joint investigations by the Anti-Drug Office (OFAST) and the Ertzaintza enabled the network to be traced back to three residents of the Landes aged 28, 29 and 33, already known to the authorities for drug trafficking.
After an initial postponement on 28 April, the nine suspects are now appearing for criminal association with a view to drug trafficking. Their respective lawyers intend to contest this charge during the hearings.
Source: Google News MA