Joris's arrestation

POLICE OFFICER ARRESTED IN MONTREUIL RAID LINKED TO TRAFFICKING CASE

By Marianne Roux, Investigative Reporter – Le Monde

Published: 23rd January, 2013

Rue du Departement, Paris – An unusually discreet yet intense police operation shook the residents of Rue du Département late Saturday evening in the Stalingrad area of Paris as a police officer was arrested in what appears to be a high-level investigation into organised human trafficking.

The arrest, conducted just before midnight, was carried out by an elite tactical unit operating under the supervision of the IGPN (Inspection Générale de la Police Nationale), France’s internal affairs division. Witnesses report a swift, coordinated entry into a third-floor apartment, followed by the sealing of the premises and the removal of a woman by ambulance. Some noise has been heard, like a door being bashed, as reported by some residents of the block at 5, Rue du Département.

Authorities have confirmed no injuries took place during the arrest and have declined to release further information about the officer’s identity or current detention status. Unofficial sources suggest the arrested officer may be connected to an ongoing investigation involving international human trafficking rings, though the police have not confirmed these claims.

“Like Something Out of a Thriller”

Residents of Rue du Département, a residential block not usually associated with major police activity, described the evening as surreal.

“We heard nothing until suddenly, a convoy of vans stopped at the corner. There were men in black, no markings, and they moved in like ghosts,” said Karim B., who lives across the street. “One car left fast, like really fast, just before it all started. It felt like they were trying to catch someone.”

Another resident, Monique L., said she saw a young woman being brought out on a stretcher, yet uninjured. “She wasn’t screaming or even injured, no, she was normal, but she looked shocked. Pale. The paramedics didn’t wait around. They were gone within minutes.”

The presence of foreign operatives did not go unnoticed. At least two individuals were seen speaking English and Hebrew outside the perimeter, and an agent from the British Metropolitan Police was present. Their affiliation remains unknown, but multiple bystanders said their presence gave the impression of “international coordination.”

Silence from Authorities

The sealed apartment, located on the upper floor of a modest mid-century building, was under close watch throughout the night. As of Sunday morning, police tape remained in place, and plainclothes officers were seen entering and exiting the premises.

All official channels have refused to provide specific comments. The Ministry of the Interior, the Prefecture of Police, and the IGPN have declined to confirm whether this operation is part of a broader crackdown on trafficking networks in the Île-de-France region.

Local speculation, however, has been swift. Residents claim that the officer in question had been living at the location for over a year. “He seemed normal. Polite. Always kept to himself. That’s what makes it so disturbing,” said a neighbour who asked to remain anonymous.

An Area Eerily Quiet

In the absence of confirmed details, the incident has left many in the neighbourhood uneasy. “It’s not every day you see special forces in your courtyard,” said one resident. “They didn’t say a word. No shouting. Just in, out, sealed.”

As police remain tight-lipped, journalists and legal experts alike are speculating that the officer’s arrest may be just the first domino in a larger investigation, one potentially involving cross-border crimes, forced prostitution, and institutional complicity.

No official charges have been filed as of publication.