Nineteen people were arrested and placed in custody Monday morning in a police operation against a deal point in downtown Saint-Ouen (Seine-Saint-Denis), AFP learned Tuesday from the Bobigny prosecutor's office and a source close to the investigation.
As part of a rogatory commission from an investigating judge of the Bobigny court, 19 people suspected of being linked to drug trafficking in the Place du 8 Mai 1945, a high place of the deal located just three hundred meters from the town hall of Saint-Ouen, were arrested in the early morning Monday by the police. The suspects were still in custody Tuesday night, said the Bobigny prosecutor's office.
This vast police operation comes in a context of growing tensions between residents and dealers while the illegal activity of the place has increased since the drying up of the sale of drugs in the Michelet and Boute-en-Train cities. Last March, the town hall held a consultation meeting on this square.
26 kilos of cannabis
The searches resulted in the seizure of 63,000 euros in cash, 26 kilos of cannabis with an estimated street value of 260,000 euros, 650 g of cocaine and many luxury clothes and accessories, reported a source close to the investigation.
For the past two years, the authorities have been increasing pressure to try to curb traffic in Saint-Ouen, the hub of the deal because of its proximity to Paris but which at the same time is gentrifying and hosting a growing number of companies and state services. The city will host the athletes' village for the 2024 Olympic Games.
For nearly a week, 12 people have also been tried in Bobigny for drug trafficking in the city of Boute-en-Train of Saint-Ouen. The decision is expected on Friday.
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