Ketamine, speed, ecstasy… Two women convicted of drug trafficking between Lozère and Hérault

At the end of the correctional hearing, the two defendants narrowly avoided prison. Midi Libre – LUCAS MANOUVRIER

After being arrested two days earlier, in a town near the Thau lagoon, they were tried, this Tuesday, October 1, 2024, by the Mende criminal court as part of an immediate appearance.

The various parties agreed on this, including the assessor Edith Lledos. "It is very rare when we deal with women for drug trafficking." However, this Tuesday, October 1, the Mende Criminal Court, as part of an immediate appearance, did indeed judge a woman from Lozère and a woman from Hérault for the following charges: transportation, possession, offer or transfer, acquisition and use of narcotics.

In total, the public prosecutor estimates that 1.8 kg of speed (nickname given to amphetamine, Editor's note), 400 g of ketamine and 400 to 500 ecstasy tablets were sold between Thursday, June 1, 2023 and this Sunday, September 29, 2024, in Florac-Trois-Rivières. The goods were either sent by Colissimo, the parcel delivery service of La Poste, by the young woman from the Sète area, or collected directly on site by her accomplice before being transported by road to the Lozère Cévennes.

A “drugs party”

The drugs were then resold to a small group of the dealer's acquaintances, including her former boyfriend. The latter also kept some of the came for her personal consumption, including amphetamine.

After extensive investigations by the gendarmerie, the two friends were finally arrested on Sunday, September 29, in a town near the Thau lagoon, while the supplier was organizing a “drug party” at her home, as President Benjamin Gayet called it.

A mother of two

In this “drug fair", another nickname given by the magistrates, plates were available to the guests, with all sorts of illicit products to consume – those already mentioned, but also LSD and cocaine. The organizer confessed in police custody to having resold drugs to eleven people during this evening.

In the dock, there were two terrified defendants, with almost inaudible voices, who tried to justify themselves. And there was reason to be afraid. Especially for the Héraultaise, mother of a 17-year-old daughter and a 4-year-old boy. When the public prosecutor requested a thirty-month prison sentence against her, twenty months of which would be suspended for two years, with a mandatory treatment and a committal order for the firm part, the young woman could no longer hold back her tears, aware that she risked being separated from her children.

“Drugs everywhere in the house”

“There is no value judgment regarding drug users, reminded Valéry Morron, the public prosecutor. They are sick people especially when there is an addiction. On the other hand, when you resell, you become a delinquent and you risk ten years in prison." The prosecutor also stressed the particularly dangerous environment in which the two minors were living. “There were drugs everywhere in the house, even in the fridge, in her handbag and in the case of her mobile phone. She had even forgotten that she had vials of LSD.”

The two defense lawyers, Me Véronique Barnier and Me Alexia Cauliez, both registered with the Lozère bar, fought to ensure that their clients did not end up in prison. “You have all the keys to pronounce a probationary stay, proclaimed Me Alexia Cauliez. My client has been on a permanent contract for twenty years. She has two children. She owns her house…”

No arrest warrant

Me Véronique Barnier also insisted on the circumscribed aspect of the trafficking: "In Florac, she only had six or eight clients, four of whom were her friends. There was no attempt at prospecting. She is inserted. And another peculiarity, she has three masters degrees, in ethnology, archaeology and MEF (Teaching, Education and Training)."

Finally, the two women narrowly avoided prison. They were both sentenced to twenty-four months of imprisonment, eighteen months of which were suspended on probation for two years, with an obligation to undergo treatment in psychology and addiction, a ban on contacting each other, and an obligation to work. In addition, the amounts resulting from the offence are seized.

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