French Mayor Arrested for Alleged Drug Trafficking After Police Raid; 70KG of Cannabis and 983G of Cocaine Found at Her Home

The mayor of Avallon, a small town nestled in the central-eastern Bourgogne-Franche-Comte region of France, found herself in hot water after French police discovered a significant quantity of cannabis at her residence on April 7, according to reports from AFP and BFM TV, citing law enforcement sources.

Jamilah Habsaoui, who assumed office as mayor of Avallon in 2021 and also serves as a regional councilor, was taken into custody following the discovery of approximately 70 kilograms of cannabis during a raid on her home. The operation was part of a preliminary investigation into suspected drug trafficking activities.

Despite owning the property for three years, Habsaoui reportedly does not reside there, as per information from the L’Yonne Republicaine newspaper. The police, in addition to searching her residence, also conducted a search at Avallon town hall.

According to statements from Auxerre's public prosecutor, Hugues de Phily, a total of seven individuals were arrested in connection with the case, including two of Habsaoui's siblings. The authorities also seized 983 grams of cocaine, €7,000 (approximately $7,600) in cash, and approximately 20 gold bars from various locations.

The crackdown on drug-related activities is part of the broader anti-narcotics campaign known as "Place Nette XXL," which was launched earlier this year. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin shared details of the operation on social media platform X, revealing that it involved around 473 raids and led to the arrest of over 7,000 suspects. In addition, law enforcement officials confiscated a staggering 3.6 tons of illicit drugs during the campaign.