In Nice, a large-scale operation carried out by law enforcement agencies has revealed the extent of a drug trafficking ring involving cash, cryptocurrencies, and gambling. At the heart of the case: a structured dealing network, a well-oiled organization… and increasingly sophisticated money laundering methods.
Several arrests in Nice
A crackdown in Nice has brought to light an unprecedented mix of financial tools used by drug dealers. In the Moulins district of Nice and several surrounding towns, a large-scale operation on June 17 led to sixteen arrests in a case involving drug trafficking, criminal conspiracy, and money laundering. The operation was coordinated by the Nice Specialized Prosecutor’s Office and the SLPJ.
The operation was made possible by several months of investigation into a network structured around a drug dealing spot located at 12 avenue de la Méditerranée. Initial findings suggest a hierarchical organization. Those arrested played different roles: some acted as hideouts for money, weapons, or drugs, while others managed the dealing point, supplies, or home deliveries.
While the quantities of drugs seized were limited (a few hundred grams of cannabis resin and cocaine), it was the financial aspect that was shocking: $140,000 in cash, packaging materials, accounting documents… but above all, access to several cryptocurrency wallets, as well as winning tickets from the Française des Jeux lottery worth several thousand euros.
The mix of cash, cryptocurrencies, and gambling winnings suggests that the suspects may have used multiple channels to attempt to launder the money. Investigators seized BTC and ETH wallets, which could reveal transfers aimed at obscuring illicit flows.
A structured network
Twelve individuals, including a teenager, were brought before an investigating judge on Thursday after being held in custody. A judicial investigation has been opened, while the public prosecutor’s office has requested pre-trial detention for nine of them. Three others could be placed under judicial supervision.
The suspects’ criminal records reveal a certain degree of involvement in crime: five are repeat offenders, and several already have a history of similar offenses. All are aged between 17 and 38. Seven are refusing to disclose the unlock codes for their phones, which will result in additional charges. One of them will also face charges for illegal possession of a Category B weapon.
As the investigation progressed, investigators painted a picture of a lifestyle that was at odds with the suspects’ declared incomes. The material seizures are telling: a Renault Clio Alpine car, a Yamaha TMAX scooter, two motorcycles—a Yamaha Ténéré and a BMW 1250 GS—a jet ski, and two Rolex watches were confiscated.
This discovery is part of a broader context: since the end of 2024, the French authorities have been conducting operations targeting “crypto ATMs”: in December 2024, 13 of these machines, valued at around €160,000, were dismantled following an investigation conducted by the JIRS and the AMF. These machines, which converted euros into cryptocurrencies (particularly BTC) without identity checks, are suspected of having been used for money laundering operations through excessive commissions.
