French authorities seize record 30 tonnes of nitrous oxide

Authorities in southwestern France have intercepted a record amount of nitrous oxide, totaling approximately 30 tonnes. The operation began with a roadside check at the Montauban-nord toll plaza, where customs officers discovered 13 tonnes of the substance in a truck. Following the interrogation of the driver, a subsequent search of a premises in Isle-Jourdain, Gers, led to the seizure of an additional 17 tonnes.

The intercepted truck, owned by a Lithuanian company, was traveling from Barcelona toward the Paris region. The total seizure consists of roughly 6,000 bottles with an estimated market value of approximately 650,000 to 665,000 euros.

A 32-year-old Belarusian driver has been placed under investigation. Charges include the illicit importation, transport, and possession of psychotropic substances in an organized group, aggravated money laundering, and participation in a criminal association. The specialized interregional jurisdiction (Jirs) of Bordeaux is handling the case.