Benin: a Frenchman, suspected of being behind cocaine trafficking, arrested in Morocco

Several kilos of cocaine seized by US authorities in Philadelphia.

(illustration) AP - Matt Rourke

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

A 65-year-old French national has been in the hands of the Moroccan police since Tuesday, October 12.

The local authorities had against him an international arrest warrant from the Beninese justice system.

It was for the case of the 145 kg of cocaine discovered in a container at the port of Cotonou that he was wanted.

Since June 25, nine people have been in pre-trial detention in this case and prosecuted for “drug trafficking and corruption”.

Among them, the boss of the anti-drug brigade, a businessman and executives of the Bolloré group.

Advertising

Read more

The man arrested Tuesday, October 12 in Casablanca is the one who ordered 20 containers of sugar.

And it was in one of these containers that the

were found

early May.

When the case broke, he was briefly arrested.

To the investigators, he would have explained to have made his orders online and to know nothing of the origin of the product found.

After this defense, he was released.

Due to medical appointments abroad, the man applied for the return of his passport and obtained it.

This is how he left Benin.

The case worsened when the containers blocked by the economic and financial brigade left the port.

This triggered arrests: the boss of the anti-drug brigade, a director of the Bolloré group, the businessman who bought the cargo and others are questioned, presented to the Criet (Court for the repression of economic offenses ) and remanded in custody.

In this lot, the French importer was missing.

Critics then multiplied on social networks and an international arrest warrant was issued.

From a good source, Benin should quickly submit an extradition request to the Moroccan authorities.

Newsletter

Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

• Benign

• Drug

• Morocco

• France