(Strasbourg) Two men suspected of having participated in watch robberies in Switzerland last winter have been indicted for criminal association after the arrest of 14 people, French police said on Saturday.
Posted at 5:09 p.m.
This vast dragnet took place mainly in the departments of the Loire and the Rhône in the Gier valley, in the east of France, specified the Interregional specialized jurisdiction (Jirs) of Nancy, specialized in matters of serious crime. organized.
At least four other men will be presented at the beginning of next week to an examining magistrate.
Several other suspects were released at the end of their police custody, without it being known if no facts were finally reproached to them or if they will be summoned later.
Two robberies enamelled with hostage taking of store managers or members of their family are at the heart of the investigations, one dating back to November 2021 in the Swiss Jura and the other to the beginning of 2022.
In November, the criminals left with 70 kilos of precious metals (including 60 kilos of gold) in suitcases, as well as two luxury watches intended for the winners of the Ballon d’Or 2021, according to France Bleu Saint-Étienne Loire who revealed the facts.
On the other hand, the alarm had surprised the thugs during the second case where they had to abandon the 200 kilos of gold collected and had exchanged fire with the police.
Two men suspected of belonging to the same criminal organization and who could be the organizers of the robberies, were then arrested in the Doubs, a border department of Switzerland.
According to the Jirs, all the suspects arrested are of French nationality, some already known to justice and related to family. Other arrests could follow.