France: Illegal immigration network from sub-Saharan Africa dismantled

Charles-de-Gaulle airport, near Paris, under the surveillance of the gendarmerie. Roissy, August 17, 2021. AP - Francois Mori

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The Border Police (PAF) at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport has dismantled an illegal immigration network from sub-Saharan Africa.

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The PAF confirmed to RFI, the members of the network, a Malian and six other people of Malian origin, were presented Thursday evening May 11 in court. They are accused of having brought illegal immigrants into France with real French passports.

It all started in November 2022 during a simple identity check on arrival at Roissy. A passenger from Mali presents a real French passport, but it is not his.

In custody, the man says he paid about 7,000 euros to make Bamako-Paris with a real ID. PAF police officers then discovered the existence of a network that mailed authentic passports to customers living in Mali, Côte d'Ivoire or Cameroon.

150 to 200 accomplices who received 1,500 euros

French people with an immigrant background lend their own identity document or make a false declaration of loss to obtain a second one. "The business, well established, had been working for a year or two," says the PAF. About 250 people are believed to have entered France.

After several months of investigation, the police arrested the members of the network on Tuesday, in the Paris region. Seven people aged 24 to 55. Among them, a Malian, their leader, is a repeat offender.

But the work of the investigators is not finished since it is now necessary to arrest those who lent their passports. 150 to 200 accomplices who received 1,500 euros. As for those who have entered the France illegally, it will be difficult to find them.

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• France
• Justice
• Immigration