A unique trial began on Monday in the Nice Criminal Court. At the heart of the case are several thousand puppies illegally imported from Eastern Europe, often sick and sometimes dead a few days after being sold in five animal shops on the French Riviera.
This trafficking occurred between 2019 and 2022 and was based on a highly structured and profitable system that the justice system is currently trying to dismantle. This operation functions like a real criminal organization, involving clandestine breeders, transporters, and sellers in France.
Over 7,000 animals were sold in three years in five shops in the Niçois region and Le Cannet, some offering up to 50 puppies per month. At the end of it, thousands of euros were involved, making it a less risky business compared to drug trafficking. However, behind the online ads and endearing photos, the reality was starkly different: young puppies, sometimes not weaned, improper transportation, and falsified documents.
Buyers quickly realized the deceit. Some animals fell ill shortly after purchase, while others died prematurely.
One of the central questions in the trial concerns compliance with regulations regarding the age of the puppies. According to French and European law, a puppy cannot be sold before 15 weeks to ensure proper weaning, vaccinations, and health.
The justice system must determine whether the puppies imported by the network, especially by two Hungarian suspects, adhered to this legal minimum. They are presented by the prosecution as key suppliers responsible for sourcing from Eastern European breeders.
Several individuals and French companies are also being judged, revealing the extent and organization of the trafficking. Defense lawyers are challenging some or all of the accusations.
The trial, scheduled until this Friday, could be a turning point in the fight against animal trafficking in France.
