Pyrénées-Atlantiques: four suspects charged over 3D-printed weapons trafficking
Four men, including a minor, are being examined in Pau on suspicion of manufacturing and distributing several dozen pistols made using a 3D printer. Two of them have been remanded in custody.
Pyrénées-Atlantiques: four suspects charged over 3D-printed weapons trafficking
Four people have been arrested near Pau and are now being prosecuted for violations of weapons laws. They allegedly developed and distributed a significant quantity of homemade pistols obtained through three-dimensional printing, during the period from January to May 2026.
The production facility was located in a closed unit in Soumoulou, a commune situated between Pau and Tarbes. Judicial police from Toulouse, assisted by those from Pau, discovered this covert manufacturing operation during a search of the premises.
It all began in early April, near Matabiau station in Toulouse. During a routine traffic check, officers discovered a pistol resembling a 9mm Glock in a car. The weapon was striking for its abnormally low weight: made of plastic materials, it was a homemade creation from a 3D printer. These replicas, despite their rudimentary appearance, are fully operational and can kill.
Subsequently, seizures of comparable weapons took place in the course of separate investigations, notably cases linked to drug trafficking and car theft, in both Pau and Toulouse. Forensic police identified the perpetrators through DNA profiles. Several of the four accused already had criminal records.
The Toulouse public prosecutor's office, which is directing the proceedings, detailed the circumstances of the accused: the alleged designer and one of the distributors, both adults, have been imprisoned; the second dealer, a 17-year-old minor, and the person who rented the unit housing the workshop, have been released under supervision. The suspects' ages range from 17 to 21 years old.
Sales took place online, with parcels subsequently deposited in automated lockers. Investigations are continuing to determine the profits generated by this illicit activity.
Source: franceinfo
Source: France Info