Cocaine seized at Boulou toll

At the Boulou toll on the A9 motorway, a routine road check led to the seizure of 16 kilograms of cocaine. The driver, whose official destination was Serbia to visit his family, faces a combination of prison time, a territorial ban, and a record fine. The events occurred on September 30, 2026, during a targeted check operation by the Internal Surveillance Brigade of the Perthus Customs.

Vehicle under scrutiny

The vehicle, registered in Spain, attracted the attention of customs officers due to anomalies noted during initial checks. The A9 motorway has become a major axis for drug trafficking between Spain and France, with previous seizures of 6 and then 10 kilograms of cocaine during similar operations.

Hidden compartment found

Under the rear floor of the vehicle, customs officers discovered a compartment containing 16 kilograms of cocaine, estimated to be worth more than one million euros on the illicit market. The driver was placed in customs detention and later handed over to the investigators of the Perpignan Office Against Drugs (OFAST).

Court sentencing and penalties

On October 5, 2026, the driver appeared in court before the Perpignan court in a summary procedure. He was sentenced to four years in prison, with two years suspended, and faced a ten-year ban from French territory. Additionally, he was imposed a customs fine of 720,000 euros, calculated based on the estimated value of the drugs.

Cumulative financial burden

The cumulative penalty represents a significant financial burden for the driver. The penalties reflect the severity of drug trafficking offenses under French law and the efforts of customs and law enforcement to combat cross-border drug smuggling.