On Monday, September 14, customs officials in Tarn-et-Garonne conducted an unexpected inspection of a truck at the Montauban-Nord toll. This led to the seizure of 30 tonnes of nitrous oxide, a gas commonly used in refrigeration and food preservation, but also sometimes misused in illicit activities. According to a police source cited by BFMTV and confirmed by Le Parisien, 13 tonnes of the gas were discovered during the initial inspection. The gas was stored in 14 pallets, which were recorded on film as part of the investigation. A follow-up search at a storage facility in L'Isle-Jourdain, located in the Gers department, uncovered an additional 17 tonnes of nitrous oxide, raising the total seizure to 30 tonnes. The estimated market value of the confiscated goods is around 650,000 euros. The truck driver, a 32-year-old man from Belarus with no prior criminal record, was taken into custody. He is now required to appear before an investigating judge at the JIRS (Judicial Investigation and Prosecution Service) in Toulouse. He may face formal charges related to the illegal possession, importation, acquisition, and transportation of goods, as well as charges of criminal association and involvement in organized labor activities. The investigation into this case has been assigned to the SIPJ (Public Prosecutor's Office) in Toulouse and the Ofast (Drug Office), which are working to trace the network behind the operation and identify other individuals involved. Authorities are likely examining whether this was part of a larger, organized criminal operation. The seizure highlights the ongoing efforts by French authorities to combat the illegal trafficking of substances that can have both legal and illicit uses.