The French gendarmerie announced the dismantling of an international drug trafficking network specializing in smuggling hashish inside new cars exported from Morocco. The network utilized a complex maritime route passing through the Port of Tangier Med before shipments reached Réunion Island in the Indian Ocean.
According to the TF1 channel, French authorities seized more than 50 kilograms of hashish on a ship that had departed from the Port of Le Havre in northern France, heading to Réunion via Tangier over the past weekend.
The drugs were cleverly concealed within car tires and seats, part of a shipment containing around 12 new vehicles loaded during the ship’s stop at Tangier Med.
Investigations revealed that the network exploited commercial vessels passing through Tangier to introduce suspicious cars onto ships, attempting to obscure the inspections, taking advantage of the heavy commercial traffic at the port.
The French gendarmerie reported that the network exploited what it referred to as “maritime carriers,” a route that has remained “seldom subject to rigorous scrutiny” in smuggling operations. Additionally, this mode of transport “allows for the passage of larger quantities of prohibited materials without arousing suspicion.”
### Investigation Initiation
The case traces back to a year ago when 8 kilograms of ecstasy were discovered hidden within the spare tire of a new car that arrived at Réunion. The estimated value of that quantity was over 550,000 euros.
This discovery led to a broad investigation that unveiled a complex criminal organization involving individuals from within the ports, tasked with facilitating the passage of illicit shipments.
In the following months, French gendarmerie units intensified their monitoring of the network’s activities, resulting in the establishment of a national investigative cell last summer to coordinate efforts between mainland France and Réunion Island, ultimately enabling the disruption of the recent operation and the arrest of several suspects.
### Tangier Under Scrutiny
Initial data reported by TF1 on this case indicate that some loading phases conducted at the Port of Tangier have come under scrutiny by Moroccan authorities, within the framework of ongoing security cooperation between Morocco and France to combat international smuggling networks, particularly those exploiting maritime routes between Europe and Africa.
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