From: Medium
In the South of France, lying on the Mediterranean Sea, Marseille is known as France’s gateway to North Africa. In this city, between the 20th and the 22nd of November, 14 persons were judged at the criminal court for what was announced to be “the largest network of identified tobacco traffickers operating on the port of Marseille.” Last year, they were caught for transferring up to 7,500 cartons of cigarettes a month from Algeria to France.
The sound of chains comes from the right as the four detainees enter the 6th room of the Criminal court of Marseille. The other ten defendents, which are not in prison, are sitting in a half-circle, under the stare of Marianne, a symbol of France. On their third day of trial, at 18.30 on Wednesday the 22nd of November, the tired faces are waiting for the crucial moment. Four notes ring, everyone stands, Mrs Mée, the President, comes in and announces: “The tribunal will render its judgement.”
3 years of detention with 1 suspension for Mostefa Benmimoun, the coordinator of the cigarette trafficking network, and for Kamel Belkadi, his right arm. Cigarette keeper Abed Adda Benziane gets three years with 18 months suspension. Reseller Mamaar Abed, alias Anis, and Hafid Lefgoum, the duty-free shopkeeper on the boat that was providing the crew, were both sentenced to 2 years. Nouar Fatnassi, the driver, aka the “fraudster”, received 1 year. Mahedi Hadjou, an occasional driver who guarded the cigarettes, received 18 months, his brother Akram got 6 months suspended. The sailors, Ahmed Zeghima and Hacène Ammoumen, will respectively cope with 12 and 8 months of prison. Christian Aghetti, a recidivist wholesaler, got 8 months in prison. And for small wholesalers Joël Ros and Frédéric Leprout, a 12-month suspended sentence.
