Cocaine seizure in southern France

French customs officials seized 172 kilograms of cocaine worth 11 million euros during an inspection of a truck traveling from Spain to the Bouches-du-Rhône region on October 27. The drugs were found in the vehicle during a routine check at Estézargues on the A9 highway.

Truck was supposed to carry avocados

The truck was originally scheduled to transport avocados, but instead, it was found to be carrying a large quantity of cocaine hidden inside. The driver, a 38-year-old man from the Netherlands, was arrested and taken into custody following the discovery.

Driver claimed ignorance of the drugs

During an immediate appearance hearing, the driver claimed he did not know that the cargo included prohibited substances. However, the criminal court did not accept this explanation and proceeded with legal action against him.

Driver sentenced to five years in prison

The driver was sentenced to five years in prison with continued detention. After completing his sentence, he will be banned from entering French territory for many years. The case was handled by the DCOS, the organized crime division of the Nîmes police station.

Drugs will be destroyed

The seized cocaine was confiscated by the Nîmes repressive jurisdiction and will be destroyed as part of the legal process. The court’s decision underscores the seriousness of drug trafficking in the region.