Wanted for seven months, drug trafficker Sofiane Hambli was arrested Friday in Tangier (Morocco). He was arrested while he was hospitalized in a clinic.
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He had been on the run for seven months: the drug trafficker Sofiane Hambli was arrested Friday, October 22 in Tangier (Morocco), franceinfo learned on Monday from a source close to the case. While this 46-year-old man had been wanted since March, he was arrested in a clinic, where he was hospitalized.
This drug lord was violently attacked with knives on Friday in Tangier, which led to his hospitalization, his life-threatening prognosis then being “reserved”. He had in his possession false papers of German nationality. Subject to an Interpol “red notice”, Sofiane Hambli has been under increased police surveillance since his arrest.
According to our information, in the event of recovery, an extradition request will be made by France. Sofiane Hambli is a character central to the scandal of the importation of 7 tons of cannabis in France in 2015, which had resulted in the ousting of the former boss of the fight against drugs, François Thierry.
It was wanted since March in another drug import case. He is suspected by the French justice of having received 2.5 million euros to organize the import of 4 tons of cannabis. Placed in pre-trial detention in November 2020, he was then released under judicial supervision in March 2021 after a favorable decision by the Court of Cassation.
Shortly after, the one who is nicknamed “La Chimère” was the subject of a committal warrant from the investigating chamber of the Paris Court of Appeal. Sofiane Hambli then did not appear in court. He had since been considered on the run and Interpol had issued an international arrest warrant against him.