Bourgogne police seize 529kg of cocaine worth 4.1 million euros

French authorities have seized over half a ton of cocaine, valued at approximately 4.1 million euros, in the Bourgogne region. The seizure occurred on a highway rest area in Côte-d'Or involving a vehicle traveling from Spain.

Two suspects, aged 35 and 42, were arrested in flagrante delicto at the Beaune and Gevrey-Chambertin rest areas. One individual was found driving a vehicle containing 529 kilograms of cocaine packaged in roughly twenty parcels. The suspects have been placed in pre-trial detention and face charges including drug importation and criminal association.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez praised the Office anti-stupéfiants (Ofast) and the Brigade de recherche et d'intervention (BRI) for this major operation, noting it cuts off supply routes to France. The investigation, triggered by a report, is examining whether the men were mere couriers or part of a larger criminal network.

In a broader context regarding narcotics enforcement in Lyon, prosecutor Thierry Dran reported that nearly 30 million euros in criminal assets were seized in the first half of 2026, surpassing the total amount seized throughout the entirety of 2025.