The eruption of violence between PSG and OL supporters has resulted in significant damages and disruptions at the Fresnes-lès-Montauban toll booth in Pas-de-Calais. The toll booth, which suffered damages valued between 500,000 and one million euros, saw clashes that led to about forty individuals sustaining minor injuries. The incident occurred on Saturday evening, just before the final match of the French Football Cup. The Société des autoroutes du Nord et de l’Est de la France (Sanef) has filed a complaint, citing severe damage to their infrastructure.
According to Sanef, two traffic lanes were burned, and the toll canopy was heavily damaged due to a bus fire. Moreover, three additional lanes were closed owing to further damages to the toll awning. The toll plaza, initially operating with only eleven out of its sixteen lanes due to Olympic Games-related works, is now functioning with just eight lanes. They have warned of significant slowdowns expected for several weeks until the complete restoration of the infrastructure.
On Saturday, in the midst of these violent clashes around 6:00 p.m., approximately thirty supporters and eight police officers were lightly injured. The incident took place roughly forty kilometers from the Villeneuve-d'Ascq stadium, where the Coupe de France final was being held. Sanef reported that supporters invaded and vandalized staff premises, causing further disruptions to toll operations. The expectation is that the damage caused will lead to prolonged traffic congestion in the affected area.
In a separate yet serious incident in Lyon, police arrested three individuals aged 19 to 33 for drug trafficking. These arrests were the result of several investigations uncovering a substantial stockpile of drugs. The Lyon police department reported finding 1,042 ecstasy pills and 29,580 euros in cash during searches conducted at the suspects' residences in Vénissieux and in the 7th and 8th arrondissements of Lyon. This significant haul also included 49 grams of MDMA, 80 grams of a synthetic drug called 3M™, and over a kilo of cannabis.
The suspects, who operated a delivery model akin to 'Ubershit', played various roles such as managers, delivery men, and order takers within the drug trafficking operation. These individuals were also in possession of two handguns and approximately 100 rounds of ammunition. Identified customers of this trafficking ring have been issued probationary criminal warnings. The accused have been presented to the public prosecutor’s office and are awaiting immediate court appearance for charges of drug trafficking and possession of weapons.
- The violent altercation at the Fresnes-lès-Montauban toll booth is not an isolated event but part of a larger issue of football-related violence that has been a growing concern in recent years. Authorities are working to deploy more security measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
- In Lyon, the recent drug bust highlights an ongoing challenge with drug trafficking in urban areas. The 'Ubershit' model employed by the suspects reflects growing sophistication among drug traffickers, which poses significant challenges to law enforcement agencies.
