Customs officers discovered twenty bricks of cocaine concealed within the cabin of a truck on Saturday, March 25, 2025, on the A8 motorway at the Turbie toll plaza.

The driver of the vehicle was subsequently sentenced to four years in prison along with a customs fine of €1.43 million, which corresponds to the estimated value of the drugs seized.

The driver, who was operating a heavy goods vehicle registered in Romania, reported that he was transporting 792 insulated bags.

However, upon closer inspection, customs agents found the cocaine hidden in a bag placed beneath the mattress of the cabin's sleeping area.

The officers had previously flagged the vehicle while it was traveling southbound on the highway.

The driver initially informed customs that he was traveling from Spain to Milan.

However, inconsistencies in his statements were noted, as the transport documentation dated March 18 indicated a route from Spain to Germany.

Following suspicions raised by these discrepancies, customs officers conducted a thorough search with the assistance of drug detection dogs.

While the trailer was found to be free of contraband, the cabin inspection revealed the hidden 22 kg of cocaine.

During questioning by the interdepartmental judicial police, the driver admitted to agreeing to transport the drugs following an approach from an individual, citing financial difficulties as a reason for his decision.

Evidence of personal use was also discovered in the cabin, adding to the gravity of the case.

In delivering the verdict on March 25, the court issued a sentence of four years of incarceration and a considerable financial penalty due to the significant quantity of narcotics involved.

This seizure adds to the ongoing efforts of the regional customs office in Nice, which has intensified operations against drug trafficking.

In 2024, the customs office reported seizing a total of 3.3 tonnes of narcotics, including a record 192 kg of cocaine.