Hostage-taking in Bassecourt and Le Locle: suspects arrested in France
Six people have been charged and taken into custody. The investigations mobilized French, Jura and Neuchâtel investigators.
Numerous investigations have been carried out in Switzerland and France in the form of a joint investigation team. (Illustrative photo).
KEYSTONE/JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BOTT
Six people have been charged and detained in France following the robberies that occurred in Bassecourt (JU) in November 2021 and in Le Locle (NE) in January. The thugs had taken people hostage before stealing precious metals from companies.
Numerous investigations have been carried out in Switzerland and France in the form of a joint investigation team, the public prosecutors of the Jura and Neuchâtel regions, as well as the specialized inter-regional jurisdiction (JIRS) of Nancy, indicated on Tuesday. After nearly a year of research, the operation which mobilized 60 investigators was launched throughout France on October 10.
A total of 14 people were arrested in the Loire and Rhône departments in the Gier valley, south of Lyon. Several cars, three stolen weapons, a beacon and narcotics were seized during searches.
Five men and one woman
Since then, five men and one woman, aged 23 to 51, have been charged and taken into custody. They are accused of criminal association. Two of them were also charged with “attempted extortion in an organized gang”.
The eight other suspects were released at the end of their police custody. One of them received a summons to court “for next week”, according to French magistrates, quoted by AFP.
Tens of kilos of gold
The investigations confirmed the links between the two attacks. On the evening of November 3, 2021, six thugs took a business manager and his entire family hostage in Bassecourt. They took them to the company where they took 70 kilos of precious metals, including 60 kilos of gold, according to JIRS. They also stole the components of luxury watches intended for the winners of the 2021 football “Ballon d’Or”.
The thieves then managed to escape and cross into France, despite a roadblock installed at the border. An employee of the Federal Customs Administration (AFC) was struck and injured in the leg.
A silent alarm, on the other hand, surprised the burglars during the second break-in, on January 6 in Le Locle. The thugs, who had taken four people hostage, had to abandon their loot. The two men then attacked a woman to steal her vehicle and flee to France. However, they were arrested in Pontarlier after a chase. They are still being held in France.
According to the JIRS, all the suspects arrested are of French nationality, some already known to justice, and have family ties.
Cooperation welcomed
The Neuchâtel and Jura authorities welcome “the excellent cross-border cooperation” between Switzerland and France. The demonstrated effectiveness “should make the attraction of Switzerland much less obvious for organized gangs operating” from France.
The investigation is continuing, in particular to clarify the role of the various people involved and to trace the loot. New arrests cannot be ruled out, according to the Neuchâtel public prosecutor.
ATS
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