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Senior Marseille Anti-Drug Officials Detained as Probe into Lost 400 kg Cocaine Deepens

Junalco judges are examining allegations of corruption involving unauthorized cocaine exchanges that emerged during Marseille’s failed Trident operation.

Les deux patrons de l’antenne marseillaise de l’Ofast ont été placés en garde à vue dans les locaux de la police des polices.
Deux commissaires responsables de l'Office anti-stupéfiants (Ofast) de Marseille placés en garde à vue dans une enquête sur une livraison surveillée de cocaïne début 2023 suspectée d'avoir connu de graves dérives

Overview

  • Two senior commissioners at Marseille’s Office anti-stupéfiants were placed in custody on June 23 under IGPN supervision as part of the Junalco judicial inquiry.
  • Operation Trident, launched in early 2023 by the Marseille Ofast unit to monitor a 200 kg cocaine consignment from Cartagena, resulted instead in nearly 400 kg entering France before the drugs vanished.
  • Prosecutors confirm the initial intelligence underestimated the shipment’s size and suspect that at least 360 kg were diverted through unauthorized exchanges by Ofast officers.
  • After discovering the volume discrepancy, the central Ofast office in Nanterre withdrew from the operation and flagged serious procedural concerns.
  • Since January 2024, the Junalco-led probe has included IGPN raids, multiple indictments of informants and investigators, and ongoing oversight by examining judges.