They were importing cannabis in flat

Five French people importing cannabis from the United States were arrested and formally charged this week. The network was sourcing the cannabis from California, where consumption is legal.

A drug trafficking operation between the two sides of the Atlantic has been dismantled. Five French individuals were arrested on May 18 and 19 for importing cannabis from the United States, as announced by the national gendarmerie in a press release.

According to investigations by the police, the drugs were hidden in large packages shipped from California, where consumption is legal but exporting remains a federal offense.

The drugs were concealed in “flat-pack furniture, fitness equipment, and even arcade cabinets” before being sent to France through commercial freight, explained the gendarmerie.

430 kg of cannabis seized The packages arrived in front of businesses in the Paris region that had no knowledge of these shipments. “Upon arrival, a accomplice of the network would wait for the package on the sidewalk of the receiving company and proceed with its reception. The drugs were then transported to be packaged before being resold at drug dealing points,” the press release continued.

Since June 2025, investigators have tracked 21 shipments to France and neighboring countries, each containing dozens of kilos. Four of these shipments were intercepted, resulting in the seizure of over 430 kg of cannabis.

In total, 6 individuals were placed in custody, with 5 of them facing charges, including 4 in pre-trial detention and one under judicial supervision.

“A 32-year-old man appears to have played an active role in the organization of the trafficking, he was connected with a 28-year-old Frenchman who had moved to California, as well as other individuals involved in various aspects of importing or retrieving the packages,” stated the gendarmerie.

During searches, tens of thousands of euros in cash and luxury items “disproportionate to the individuals’ official income” were seized.