French authorities have seized 207kg of methamphetamine in the northeastern town of Pont-à-Mousson, a significant and “rare” interception of the drug on national territory. The shipment originated in Mexico.
According to the Paris public prosecutor’s office, the discovery began on 26 December when customs officials at Charles de Gaulle airport flagged pallets arriving from Mexico. Investigators from Ofast, the national anti-narcotics office, then tracked the shipment to a location in Meurthe-et-Moselle, where the drugs were ultimately seized on 8 January.
The Parisian daily Le Parisien reported that the pallets were sent by a car parts manufacturer, with the methamphetamine concealed “in a highly sophisticated hiding place within metal parts”.
Three individuals were arrested at the scene. All have since been charged, with two remanded in custody. The third was released under judicial supervision, a decision the prosecutor’s office has appealed.
Lawyers for two of the defendants, Robin Binsard and Sophie Guinamant, declined to comment when contacted by AFP.
The prosecutor’s office emphasised that the “seizure of such a product in the form of ‘crystal meth’ on national territory is rare”, noting its “particularly dangerous” nature. Investigations are ongoing under the direction of examining magistrates from the Paris Specialised Inter-regional Jurisdiction (Jirs).
