FRENCH POLICE BUST GEORGIAN CRIME RING
RF1
http://www.english.rfi.fr/europe/20111118-french-police-bust-georgian-crime-ring
Nov 18 2011
France
French police have busted an alleged Georgian criminal gang working
with an Armenian network to sell goods robbed across the Paris region
and south-west France.
A huge team of 300 gendarmes rounded up 23 Georgians and Armenians,
most of them living in the foothills of the Pyrenees, on Friday.
They are accused of theft, receiving stolen goods and money-laundering.
The gang was highly structured with a well established hierarchy,
according to police.
It came to light after a spate of robberies, mainly targeting digital
products and jewellery, of businesses and homes across the south-west
of France.
The profits of the crimes were sent back to the two Caucasian
countries, police say.
The accused will be charged and questioned in the western city of
Bordeaux.