Drug bust in La Turbie

Stefano Macchi was yesterday sentenced to three years in prison for attempting to cross the France-Italian border with 80 kilograms of hash in a heavy goods lorry in November 2011.

For customs officers at La Turbie, it is a familiar sight. In early October 2011, two other separate vehicles were stopped and searched, revealing just under 300 kilograms of hash. It is not a route unknown to Macchi either; when arrested he allegedly said he had "got away with smuggling 100 kilograms the week before".

Luc Febbraro, Macchi's lawyer, argued that his client had a "spontaneous nature" for the crime. He also said that "Macchi had fully cooperated throughout the investigation". 

Macchi, who has already been to prison for six years for smuggling narcotics, has also received a fine and will be unable to travel or drive in France for five years.

Elsa Carpenter