Villefranche-sur-Saône drug trial cancelled after procedural error

A French criminal court in Villefranche-sur-Saône annulled the trial of five people accused of operating a large drug trafficking network in the Rhône region. The defense argued that a key interrogation report from a separate investigation was omitted from the dossier, violating the suspects' rights. After about an hour of deliberation, the tribunal agreed, nullifying the immediate‑appearance procedure and ending the hearing without a verdict.

Police had seized 1.5 kg of cocaine, 14 kg of cannabis, €28,000 in cash and a Kalashnikov during a May 20 raid. One of the two 30‑year‑old men in custody was released following the decision, while the other remains detained on an unrelated conviction. The remaining three suspects, a 24‑year‑old woman and two 20‑year‑old men, had their judicial controls lifted. The public prosecutor announced plans to appeal the ruling before the Lyon Court of Appeal.