• The public prosecutor of Nantes announces the dismantling of a major traffic of catalytic converters, which transited from the West of France to Poland.

  • Five fences, members of the same Polish family, will be judged in particular in September.

It is a case "which is frankly out of the ordinary".

This Friday, the public prosecutor of Nantes announces the dismantling of a significant traffic of catalytic converters of cars, which transited between the West of France and Poland.

Six thieves, aged 18 to 50, were arrested during two waves of arrests, which occurred in early February in Loire-Atlantique and Brittany.

But the meticulous investigation by the Rezé gendarmerie brigade near Nantes, and the mobilization of 200 soldiers on D-Day, also and above all enabled the arrest of five receivers, three men and two women aged between 32 and 40, all members of the same family of Polish nationality.

Their organization was well established.

“Some took care of collecting pots, making the rounds of thieves with whom they were in contact, explains Renaud Gaudeul, the prosecutor.

Others then transported the parts to Poland from the Rennes region.

These catalysts, elements of car exhausts, are highly coveted because of the precious metals they contain, which cost much more than gold.

"The prices of rhodium, palladium and platinum have soared in recent weeks," said the public prosecutor.

Depending on the model, a pot can cost between 100 and 1,500 euros.

Nearly 400 facts in one year

For several years, but especially since the beginning of 2021, the thefts of these parts have multiplied in Loire-Atlantique, and in other departments.

Petrol cars, and in particular models between 1998 and 2012, were particularly targeted by thieves, who only needed a few minutes and a small grinder to cut out the famous part.

“In total, 379 facts were noted in the department in 2021, especially in the south-Loire, specifies Renaud Gaudeul.

The phenomenon accelerated further at the end of the year with between 42 and 56 incidents recorded per month.

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After having identified a first thief, the gendarmerie continued its investigations to go back to the heads of this network, who bought the goods.

During searches at the family, “210,000 euros in assets were seized at this stage, including 100,000 euros in cash”, details Emmanuel Aubry, commander of the Nantes interministerial research group (GIR).

Some 300 pots were also discovered.

Judged in September

Tens of thousands of pieces could thus have transited to Poland, while “investigations have shown that the carriers made round trips every fortnight, with 700 to 800 pots”.

The eleven thieves and receivers will be judged in September.

The latter, unknown to justice and now placed under judicial control, incur up to ten years in prison.

According to the prosecutor, after these arrests, only five acts of theft of this type were recorded in February on the Loire-Atlantique.

Miscellaneous facts

Dismantling of trafficking in catalytic converters between the Var and Poland

Society

Côtes-d'Armor: The gendarmes are concerned about the theft of exhaust pipes

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