Stéphane Burgatt
modified to
8:08 a.m., February 6, 2024
The best of new technologies diverted for bad purposes. This completely unprecedented dragnet, between the Var department and Belgium. A network of traffickers manufactured firearms on 3D printers. In total, 14 people were arrested and 6 imprisoned.
Three weapons are displayed on a table in the Marseille prosecutor’s office. Their appearance is surprising, but be careful, even if these rifles are made of plastic, their reliability makes them formidable weapons. “The quality is good, even very good. Close to 95% of the original weapons. We are witnessing the uberization of arms trafficking, which is taking on a significant scale. What is hidden behind these individuals is a real pro-arms ideology imported from the United States”, observes Colonel Hervé Pétry of the National Cyber Unit of the gendarmerie.
Untraceable weapons
The weapons were delivered in packages, in separate parts, to escape detection. The printing files were also monetized for those who wanted to start printing weapons on their 3D printer.
Finally, a year of tracking and infiltration on the darknet and encrypted networks was necessary for the investigators to end up tracing back to a network composed mainly of anarchist movements, “libertarians”.
“An ideology where everyone must be able to arm themselves against the State and against all kinds of attacks. The 9 mm rifle model was also called ‘Fuck Gun Control’. But while being libertarian, we must remain a trader. These weapons were traded between €1,000 and €1,500”, according to the public prosecutor of Marseille, Eric Bessonne.
According to the gendarmerie, the printer model seized was worth little more than €150. In total, 14 people were arrested and 6 imprisoned. The Marseille magistrate is also worried about this uberization, with cheaper weapons, but above all without a serial number and therefore almost untraceable.