Cannabis trafficking and money laundering through an Arles pizzeria
A 31-year-old restaurateur allegedly distributed cannabis and resin across several municipalities whilst recycling the proceeds through his business.
Cannabis trafficking and money laundering through an Arles pizzeria
The Tarascon court examined on Friday 5 June the case of three individuals accused of distributing narcotics and laundering the proceeds. The alleged facts took place from January 2025 to June 2026 across several municipalities in the department, according to La Provence.
The principal defendant, Mostafa H., is a 31-year-old man who owns a restaurant in Arles. Investigators believe he turned his business into a tool for recycling cash from cannabis sales. According to his statements, a marital separation prompted him to engage in this illicit activity. He allegedly entrusted the day-to-day running of the restaurant to undeclared employees in order to focus on the drug trade.
The defendant claims to have operated alone until the end of March, when a torn anterior cruciate ligament forced him to rely on two accomplices. These latter also appeared before the courts. The hearing was to determine their degree of involvement in the network.
The area of operation extended to Arles, Saint-Martin-de-Crau, Fontvieille and Fourques.
Source: Google News FR — Crime (fr)