Four individuals were arrested between February 8 and 10, 2022 as part of an investigation into the illegal sale of 3,000 fake health passes in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Île-de-France, the gendarmerie announced on Saturday 12 February.
This operation was carried out by the Central Office for the Fight against Damage to the Environment and Public Health (OCLAESP) of Thonon-les-Bains, in Haute-Savoie, with the help of the research section of Grenoble and gendarmerie groups from Haute-Savoie, Drôme and Rhône.
During the search of the homes of the four individuals who are suspected of being involved in this affair, the police discovered “numerous telephones and digital media containing data and elements making it possible to materialize false passes”, specifies the press release.
To be able to create these 3,000 fake health passes, they diverted data from the professional accounts of health personnel. For the moment, the exact number of these hijackings has not been communicated.
9 months of house arrest for one of the accused
Thanks to the profits made on these illegal sales, the members of this network were able to buy many luxury goods, as evidenced by the various seizures made. Rolex, Audemars Piguet watches, multimedia equipment or even a 4×4 type vehicle were purchased “during or after the period of the facts”.
Of the four individuals arrested, two were released after their custody, pending legal action. The third is summoned to court and the last was tried this Friday, February 11, 2022 in immediate appearance by the Valencia court. He was sentenced to nine months house arrest with the wearing of an electronic bracelet.