The public prosecutor’s office at the Tunis First Instance Court has authorized the narcotics division of the judicial police to place lawyer Ghazi Mrabet and another individual described as a drug trafficker sought by authorities into custody, according to a judicial source.
The essentials
Two people were placed in police custody for a five-day period.
The investigation focuses in particular on suspicions of drug trafficking and money laundering.
More than 8 kg of cocaine and 4 kg of cannabis were reportedly seized.
An amount of 394,000 dinars was also discovered.
The investigations continue to identify potential members of the network.
A five-day custody
According to the same source, the second suspect was the subject of a wanted notice and is said to have been sentenced to 40 years in prison in a drug-trafficking case.
The prosecutor’s office ordered the placement in custody of the two individuals for five days for acts described, at this stage of the investigation, as “the formation of a gang for drug trafficking and money laundering.”
More than 12 kg of narcotics reportedly seized
The case would have begun with a search at the home of the wanted individual. The search reportedly allowed security units to seize more than 8 kg of cocaine, 4 kg of cannabis, as well as an amount estimated at 394,000 dinars, according to information provided by the judicial source.
An attempted obstruction mentioned by the judicial source
The source states that the lawyer, present at the scene at the time of the intervention, allegedly tried to impede the actions of the security units to allow the other suspect to escape. However, the officers managed to arrest the two individuals.
The investigation continues to determine the exact circumstances of the case and to identify any other members of the network. The facts mentioned remain subject to ongoing judicial investigations and to the assessment of the courts. The individuals involved benefit from the presumption of innocence until a final judicial decision establishes their responsibility.
