During the raid, “more than seven kilos of heroin, more than a kilo and a half of cocaine, tens of thousands of euros, a heroin press, weapons, a grenade, ten vehicles” were seized, according to a statement made Tuesday by the French ‘Interregional specialized Jurisdiction’ (Jirs) in Nancy.
The investigation began in 2018 with suspicions about “the existence of drug trafficking, specifically heroin and cocaine, in Colmar and villages to the west of this city.”
Investigations and surveillance uncovered “large narcotics trafficking” involving twenty suspects described as being young, active, organised into a hierarchical network, and some dangerous, according the Jirs.
The group changed their “meeting point” three times, with a preference for a neighbourhood free of CCTV surveillance leading to their first move, and then changing location again after a nearby shootout in August 2018.
According to the statement, three people were at the head of the network, which was allegedly responsible for the “large-scale import of narcotics between the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany since the beginning of 2016 until the end of May 2019.”
The “ruling structure” could count on “henchmen, at least eight in number, (...) especially for the transport of narcotics or money, for the resale of the drugs”, the statement continued.
A third circle of people was solicited for additional tasks “such as loan of vehicles, rental of hotel rooms”.
Fifteen people were taken into custody after their arrest on May 20 in Colmar and Turckheim, a neighbouring town, by some 280 members of the police.
At the end of the operation, twelve men and three women were presented to a magistrate of the Jirs. Two people were placed under judicial supervision, twelve were imprisoned and a final suspect wanted a delay to prepare his defence.
The suspects could face maximum prison sentences of ten years.
