Youth arrested for drug possession

A 19-year-old man was arrested after police detected a strong smell of cannabis coming from his car. The vehicle had a faulty exhaust pipe that produced loud backfires, which caught the attention of an anti-crime unit patrolling the area.

Items found during search

When the police stopped the vehicle, they conducted a security pat-down of the driver and found a bundle of bills totaling 2,080 euros. A search of the car’s interior later revealed two pocket knives, a ziplock bag with 2 grams of cannabis resin, a black balaclava in the door’s pocket, and a bottle containing one gram of cocaine in the trunk.

Search at cousin's residence

The next morning, police searched the home of the suspect’s cousin, where he claimed to live. The search uncovered 4,760 euros in cash and a 102-gram block of cocaine. A Walther P99 handgun with a tampered serial number, a magazine containing at least one 9 mm round not chambered, and a detachable silencer were also found.

Suspect’s statement and legal outcome

During his custody, the suspect denied the charges, saying the weapon and cocaine had been given to him by a third party to store at his residence. He was later released and accepted a plea of 14 months’ imprisonment with a full two-year probation period. He was also required to return to Mayotte for two years and prohibited from appearing in Besançon for three years. He was subsequently released "on instruction," according to the police.