The cocaine was transported by “mules”, from Guyana, passed through Orly and was picked up in Garons

Mes Jérôme Arnal, Manon Casteran et Estelle Marques. Midi Libre – C.R.

Suspected of having participated in cocaine trafficking, between Guyana, Orly and Garons airport, Sauve and Vaucluse, 12 defendants were tried, since Tuesday, by the criminal court in Nîmes. 

They're not kids. And yet…  during the long period of Covid, Christophe, 40 years old, a soldier who lives in Garons, one of his work colleagues and some acquaintances got involved in cocaine trafficking between Guyana and Nîmes, via the # 39;Orly airport.

After making contact with Mirhane known as Picosse, who was already transporting cocaine between Guyana and Poitiers, these Gardois decided to take advantage of the windfall. They have, in a way, created a new route between Guyana, Garons, Sauve and Bedarrides in Vaucluse. "Picosse" was coming down from Paris towards Nîmes, with "mules", women or men who ingested, for remuneration,  cocaine or transported it in bags. The "mules" were paid more than 4,000 € for travel or much less. The route, after landing at the airport in the Paris region, was taken by train or by car to reach the Gard capital.

With a 9 month old child

The "mules" then went to a hotel and, sometimes, stayed with Christophe in Garons. The gendarmes from the Nîmes research section arrested one of them, Diana, at Christophe's home. She had made the trip with her 9-month-old little boy. In her bag, the gendarmes discovered between the diapers, talcum powder and baby bottles, a bag containing cocaine capsules.

"Picosse" was also accompanied by Raphaël, one of the mules who had ingested cocaine.  "There are also mules who die, recalls, Me Jérôme Arnal, Raphaël's lawyer . Who is willing to take such risks? Does this deserve a heavy sentence. A mule is an animal. And he is treated like an animal. Doesn’t that deserve a little leniency ?"

According to investigators, other Gardois also have  profited from this business. In Sauve, Claude, 61, was one of them. In Bedarrides (Vaucluse), Brian, 32, implicated in this importation and this  drug trafficking has always denied having participated in it. This was again the case, this Tuesday and yesterday, before the Nîmes criminal court where a total of 12 defendants were tried. Most of them had no criminal record.

" There are no drugs, says Brian, this Wednesday. I am accused of having bought 9 kg of cocaine, that is false. Think carefully, Mr. President. " His property (apartments, house with swimming pool) would have been paid for with money from this drug trafficking, contests his partner, who is also being prosecuted. She holds up invoices ensuring that everything has been paid and declared. Jean-Luc Vasserot, the prosecutor requested sentences ranging from 18 months in prison to 7 years in prison. 

Six years in prison for Christophe, in Garons

Christophe was é sentenced, this Wednesday evening, to 6 years in prison and 50,000 € fine. Brian, 32, who denied the alleged facts is sentenced to death. &agrav; 7 years in prison and 50,000 € fines. Bleaching has not been carried out. retained. Claude, 61, who lives in Sauve, is sentenced to death. &agrav; 4 years in prison including 30 months with suspended probation and 50,000 € fines. Raphaël is condemned; &agrav; 4 years in prison. Same sentence for Mirhane. Dominique is condemned; &agrav; 2 years in prison. Two of the women transporting the cocaine are sentenced to death. 30 months in prison, the third è 18 months in prison. Ismalla is condemned; &agrav; 30 months in prison. The court also pronounced three acquittals. 

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