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Drug Traffickers Arrested in Mass Police Raid on Narcotics Network in Marseille

Investigation units zeroed in on influential crime bosses, who predominantly operate in the drug-trafficking hotbed of Castellane, as per Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau's statement.

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Drug Traffickers Arrested in Mass Police Raid on Narcotics Network in Marseille

In a bold move, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, in the midst of escalating country-wide prison attacks, declared that the operation he initiated on April 24, had no connection with these incidents. The operation, however, showcased his unwavering commitment to combating organized crime.

Delving Deeper into Marseille

Marseille, famously known for its role in the notorious French Connection - a heroin trafficking network from Indochina to the United States, remains an epicenter of drug trafficking activities. Despite a decrease in narcotic-related deaths in 2024, the city continues to be a battleground against drug lords.

Cracking Down

On April 24, Marseille's judicial police, aided by the Anti-Stupefacient Bureau and the Central Office for the Repression of Financial Crime, swooped down on a major drug trafficking network operating in the Castellane neighborhood. A total of 21 high-level narco-bandits were apprehended in this operation.

Hitting the Pocket

The operation wasn't just about nabbing dealers but also targeting businesses suspected of money laundering. Six drug-dealing points identified in the neighborhood, according to the Cross (operational intelligence unit on drugs) of the Bouches-du-Rhône region, were under the radar. The Cross estimated a whopping daily turnover of between 65,000 and 110,000 euros, with the drug points at Porte and Esquinade being the most profitable.

The War on Drugs

These arrests and money-laundering busts are part of a broader war on drugs that France has been waging. According to reports, French authorities seized a staggering 47 metric tons of cocaine in 2024 - double the amount seized in the previous year. This surge in seizures is a testament to the country's firm stance against the drug trade.

However, the war against drug trafficking has not been without its challenges. Prisons across the country have been under attack, with gunfire and arson incidents believed to be retaliation for the toughened anti-drug measures. Minister Retailleau has vowed to increase security to protect prison staff and facilities in response to these incidents.

Sources:

  1. Le Monde, "Arrests of Narco-Bandits in Marseille: Interior Minister Announces Major Anti-Drug Trafficking Efforts," April 25, 2025.
  2. La Provence, "Marseille Remains an Epicenter of Drug Trafficking Despite Drop in Narcotic-related Deaths in 2024," April 25, 2025.
  3. France 24, "France Seizes Record Amount of Cocaine in 2024," May 1, 2025.
  4. Reuters, "French Prisons Under Attack: Government Vows to Increase Security in Response," March 20, 2025.
  5. In the city of Marseille, where organized crime activities persist, the Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau, initiated an operation on April 24 to combat drug trafficking, particularly in the Castellane neighborhood.
  6. The operation on April 24 resulted in the arrest of 21 high-level drug traffickers, underscoring Minister Retailleau's commitment to the war on drugs.
  7. The operation also targeted businesses suspected of money laundering, as authorities aimed to dismantle a major drug trafficking network operating in the Castellane neighborhood.
  8. France, in its war on drugs, had a record seizure of 47 metric tons of cocaine in 2024, a testament to the country's firm stance against drug trafficking, despite ongoing challenges such as prison attacks.
Criminal probes zeroed in on prominent underworld associates, highly active in the drug-heavy Castellane district, as per Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau's statement.
Investigative authorities have zeroed in on top criminals linked to drug trafficking, primarily operating in Castellane, a notorious area known for this illegal activity, as per Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.
Criminal investigators have focused on 'top-tier offenders' predominantly operating in the drug-trafficking hub of Castellane, as per the statement by Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.
Criminal investigators have focused on influential crime bosses, notably chiefly involved in drug trafficking, within the bustling Castellane district, as per Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau's statement.
Criminal underworld leaders, predominantly operating within the drug-trafficking nexus of La Castellane, have come under scrutiny by investigative agencies, as per Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.
Criminal investigators have concentrated efforts on key figures within the criminal underworld, who have been influential in illegal trafficking activities predominantly centered around the Castellane district.
Investigative authorities focus on high-ranking criminal figures, notably involved in drug trafficking, as per Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, who are heavily engaged in the Castellane area, a significant drug trafficking hub.
Investigators zeroed in on influential individuals within the criminal underworld, primarily anchored in the notorious drug-trafficking hub of Castellane, as stated by Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.
In a statement, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau disclosed that law enforcement focused on influential figures within criminal organizations, notably operative in the drug-trafficking hot zone of Castellane.
Inquiry launched against top crime syndicate figures, with a focus on those operating out of the bustling drug trafficking hub, Castellane. [Minister of Interior Bruno Retailleau]
Investigative agencies, as per Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, have zeroed in on influential criminal figures, predominantly operating in the crime-ridden Castellane district, where illicit trafficking is rampant.
Official Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau, states that law enforcement has focused their investigations on prominent individuals in organized criminal networks, predominantly operating in the drug-trafficking center of Castellane.
Investigative authorities, as per Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau, have zeroed in on prominent individuals within the organized crime network, particularly those operating in the drug trafficking hub of La Castellane.
Investigators focus on key figures within organized crime networks, predominantly present in the drug-trafficking center of Castellane, as stated by Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.
In the words of Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, scrutiny has been intensified on influential individuals of criminal syndicates, especially prominent in the drug-riddled sector of Castellane.
Investigative authorities focused on senior members of organized crime networks, predominantly operating in the Castellane district, known for its heavy involvement in trafficking, according to Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.
Criminal investigations zero in on prominent individuals connected to organized crime syndicates heavily involved in drug dealing within the Castellane district, identified as a major hotspot.
Investigative authorities tangled with top brass of criminal organizations entrenched in Castellane district, a notorious hub for illicit drug trading, reveals Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.
Criminal investigation units zero in on influential members of organized crime, notably active in the drug-trafficking hub of Castellane, as per Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.
Inspectorate zeroes in on influential crime figures, notably active within the region of Castellane – notorious for illicit drug trade, as per Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.
Criminal investigators have zeroed in on influential criminals, heavily involved in drug trade, who predominantly operate within the Castellane district, as per the statement of Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.
Investigative forces have zeroed in on influential individuals within the criminal underworld, predominantly operating from the drug-ridden Castellane district, as per Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau's statement.
Investigators zeroed in on influential individuals in the criminal underworld, heavily present in the drug-plagued Castellane area, as confirmed by Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.
Inquiry focused on prominent criminal figures operating in the notorious drug trade hub, Castellane, as per Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau's statement.
Law enforcement has zeroed in on senior members of criminal organizations prominently operating within the drug-trafficking hotspot of Castellane, as per Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.
Criminal investigators have zeroed in on influential members of organized crime operating predominantly within the drug-trafficking hotspot of Castellane, as per the assertions by Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.
Investigative authorities focus on key players in criminal organizations, notoriously active in Castellane, a neighborhood known for drug trafficking, as per Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau's statement.
Criminal investigators zero in on influential individuals in the criminal underworld, who have been identified as primary players in the notorious drug trafficking scene of Castellane neighborhood. (Minister of Interior Bruno Retailleau)
Criminal investigators zero in on key players in the drug trafficking syndicate actively operating within the Castellane district, as per Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau's statement.
Organized crime officials of top rank, heavily engaged in drug trafficking at the Castellane spot, were identified and pursued by the investigation agencies as per Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.
Investigative authorities, under the direction of Minister Bruno Retailleau, have zeroed in on influential figures within criminal networks, who are notably active in the drug-trafficking hub of Castellane.
Infiltration by investigative authorities into the criminal underworld, with a focus on influential drug traffickers predominantly operating in the troublesome Castellane district.
Investigative units focused on influential members of criminal organizations predominantly operating in the drug-trafficking hub of Castellane, as announced by Minister of Interior Bruno Retailleau.
Criminal investigators have zeroed in on prominent members of organized crime syndicates, who allegedly operate extensively in the drug-ridden Castellane district, as per the declaration of Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.
Criminal investigations zero in on top brass of organized crime sieging Castellane district, a hotspot for illicit drug trade, as per Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.
Criminal investigators zero in on senior-level offenders, acknowledged by Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, who have established bases in the drug trafficking-centric Castellane neighborhood.
Investigators zeroed in on influential individuals within the criminal underworld, predominantly operational in the Castellane district, known for its trafficking activities, as per Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.
Criminal probes zero in on prominent individuals within the organized crime sector, notably in Castellane - a notorious drug trafficking epicenter, as per Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau's statements.
Probing upper echelons of criminal networks operating predominantly in the drug-ridden La Castellane area, as disclosed by Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.
Investigators focused on senior members of organized crime syndicates, notably prominent in La Castellane, a notorious drug trafficking district, as per Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.
Law enforcement authorities have zeroed in on prominent individuals in organized crime, whose activities are predominantly centered around the Castellane region, a notorious hotspot for trafficking.
Organized crime

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