2024-08-02 09:00:09
Passenger luggage inspection at Charles de Gaulle Airport, July 3, 2024.
The operational area lacks the splendor of the Olympic venues: more than 145,000 counterfeit items for Olympics and sporting events are stored in 17 warehouses scattered across eastern Paris. These slightly crude “Phryges” plush toys, these T-shirts with upside-down rings, these imitation running shoes from big brands join the massive inventory “Obvious fake”usually from China, collected by customs during an international hunt that began seven months ago.
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« The French market is clearly targeted and the Olympics – like the European football championships – provide business opportunities for criminal organizations. », referring to Corinne Cléostrate, deputy director of the General Administration of Customs for combating fraud. “The Olympics could be a windfall for criminal groups,” Simon Decressac, Regional Customs Director of Roissy-Voyageurs emphasized.
In addition to event-related cargo, the saturation of airport terminals, as well as the excess passengers and equipment that need to be transported as quickly as possible, is also seen as an opportunity for discreet delivery of illegal products. “We are making continuous seizures of tobacco, narcotics and pharmaceuticals, but it is too early to talk about the impact of the Olympics,” Madame Cleostra believed it. “As for stimulant products, She pointed out, The findings in recent days involve orders placed online by individuals, specifically bodybuilding orders, but are not related to competitions. »
Upstream supply is guaranteed
Customs intelligence also discovered another ploy: the opportunity for “mules” to transport drugs in suitcases on commercial flights used by some Olympic delegations. This penetration will target the usual source countries of cocaine – South America and West Africa, which have become strategic “rebound zones”. On Sunday, July 28, a young Brazilian woman was arrested on a flight from Dhaka, but outside the framework of the Olympics. One of his suitcases contained 8 kilograms of cocaine – with a resale value of more than €500,000.
For cocaine and other stimulants, health authorities feared higher than usual consumption during the holidays and secured supplies in advance, according to expert investigators. On July 14, 107 kilograms of cocaine were discovered in Roissy’s luggage from Fort-de-France, Martinique: first 52 kilograms, packed in small compact bags filled with passengers’ luggage, and a few minutes later, another Packed in other luggage, packed in other luggage.
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