Last Wednesday, the Montpellier police launched a new large-scale operation in the housing estate of Marels, in the Millennium. This intervention, aimed at dismantling a vast drug trafficking network, resulted in the seizure of significant quantities of cocaine and of cannabis, as well as the arrest of several individuals linked to the illicit drug market. The details of this operation shed light on the growing security issues in Montpellier.
A marked return of the police to the Marels
This Wednesday afternoon, the Montpellier law enforcement officers returned en masse to the Marels housing estate, located at Millénaire. The objective was clear: to hit hard on the drug trafficking that is plaguing this neighborhood. This intervention marks a significant return of the police to an area too often dominated by traffickers.
Residents, exhausted by the violence and anxiety generated by criminal activities, welcomed this operation with relief. The Montpellier police chief declared that these actions will continue in order to “ regain control of our neighborhoods where illegality currently reigns “.
Impressive seizures of cocaine and cannabis
The careful search of the premises allowed the police to get their hands on an impressive quantity of cocaine and of cannabis. Dozens of kilograms of these narcotics were seized during searches carried out in several homes in the subdivision. In addition to drugs, firearms and a substantial amount of cash were discovered, highlighting the scale and dangerousness of the network in place.
These findings are not isolated. In recent weeks, interventions against drug trafficking in Montpellier reveal a well-established criminal infrastructure, with logistics to distribute up to 90 doses per hour (according to some previous investigations), particularly in areas such as Avenue des Marels, nicknamed “the Cluster”.
Several arrests in progress
The operation also led to the arrest of several individuals directly involved in drug trafficking. In total, six people were arrested, some of whom are suspected of being central figures in the network. These arrests mark a hard blow for traffickers, but also for regular consumers throughout the region, deprived of their source of supply.
The situation at Marels is sadly reminiscent of that of Cité Gély, another Montpellier district that has become the site of fierce clashes between drug dealers and the police. The authorities warn that these operations will continue with the same intensity to dismantle these criminal organizations.
Ongoing efforts against drug trafficking
The fight against drug trafficking in Montpellier is a priority for the police and local elected officials. The recent operation in Marels is only the latest in a series of interventions aimed at cleaning up the most affected neighborhoods. Last April, a similar operation had already led to the seizure of several kilos of drugs and the arrest of five people involved in a vast cannabis and cocaine distribution network.
Collaboration between the anti-narcotics office and the judicial police is essential to the success of these operations. The recurring captures of weapons and cash confirm that these drug networks are ready to do anything to defend their illicit business, including violence against the police, as was the case during the arrest of a “go fast” where police officers were attacked.
The recurrence and intensity of police operations show that the war against drug trafficking in Montpellier is only just beginning. The police seem determined to regain control of their neighborhoods, for the safety and tranquility of residents.
Questions about the Cité Gély
The muscular intervention at Marels raises questions similar to those posed by the shock of the clean-up operations at the Cité Gély. Why are these neighborhoods becoming the preferred battlegrounds for the eradication of drug dealers? Are the authorities considering a long-term action plan to prevent the return of traffickers once they have been dislodged? These questions concern not only residents, but also observers of the Montpellier criminal scene.