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France arrests dozens in arms trafficking crackdown

The 45 people arrested in France and in French overseas territories were detained as part of an operation targeting international traffickers.

La rédaction de Mediapart

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French authorities have arrested 45 people across France and in French overseas territories as part of an operation targeting international arms traffickers, police said Monday, reports FRANCE 24.

Thirty-eight people have so far been placed under formal detention and more arrests are expected, French police said in a statement.

Some 300 officers were involved in the sweep, which targeted military-grade arms, ammunition and weapons parts trafficked into the country from the Balkans and Slovakia since 2009.

Read more of this report from FRANCE 24.