Arms trafficking in Strasbourg: nine committed for trial after network dismantled
An illegal arms importation network dismantled in the Strasbourg conurbation, eleven arrests, nine committed for trial of whom six remanded in custody.
Arms importation network dismantled in Strasbourg, nine men committed for trial
Eleven people were arrested early this week in the Strasbourg conurbation (Bas-Rhin) as part of the dismantling of an illegal arms importation network, according to franceinfo.fr, which cites the Strasbourg prosecutor's office. Nine of them — men aged 26 to 74 — were committed for trial for criminal association and arms importation after appearing before an investigating judge. Six were remanded in custody; the other three are subject to judicial supervision.
Buyers, resellers and legal cover
According to the Strasbourg prosecutor's office, the arrested individuals are suspected of having played different roles within the network: buyers, resellers or importers of arms, "partly under the cover of a legitimate activity". The prosecutor's office clarifies that "some of these arms had been acquired by an individual with no criminal record", and that some of the imported arms "were resold to individuals already convicted, particularly for drug trafficking offences".
The arrests took place on Monday 12 October, mobilising 70 Alsatian and Moselle police officers, supported by the Raid, bomb disposal experts and weapons specialists. Stocks of arms and ammunition were also seized during the operation.
A cellar in Neuhof at the origin of the investigation
The investigation began with a search of a cellar in the Neuhof district of Strasbourg. Police discovered there "several arms including an assault rifle of Kalashnikov type, a sub-machine gun, several hundred rounds of all calibres, as well as narcotic substances", according to the prosecutor's office. This discovery led to the opening of a judicial investigation at Strasbourg judicial court. Given the criminal and organised nature of the case, it was transferred to the specialised unit in Nancy.
Source: Google News LU — Crime (fr)