Turkish customs arrested two French people at Istanbul airport when they returned with dozens of kilos of cannabis in their suitcases on February 28. While the trial approaches, the lawyer for the accused wishes to highlight the role of a drug trafficker who would have forced them to act.
Two young French women in Turkish jails that claim their innocence. Ibtissem B. and Mariam were arrested on February 28 at Istanbul airport in Türkiye when they returned from Thailand, after the discovery of dozens of kg of cannabis in their checked suitcases.
Originally from the Paris region, these travelers swear that they were not aware of what they transported in these suitcases, closed by a padlock and entrusted by a third party.
Until 17 years in prison
They will be tried on September 11, 2025 in Istanbul. They incur 17 years in prison. Contacted by BFMTV regarding the prison situation of these 2 French nationals, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not react.
Me Carole-Olivia Montenot, the lawyer for Ibtissem and his family, denounces the “criminal acts” of the man designated as the sponsor of this operation, a certain Taeric O. He would have piloted everything from his cell at the Amiens prison.
“The facts appear to us of an extreme gravity as soon as Mr. Taeric O. is detained, and the facts are similar to international trafficking in organized gang,” said Montenot in a report sent on July 29 to the Prosecutor of Amiens, of which BFMTV was copy. Solicited, the Amiens prosecutor’s office did not indicate what follow -up he intended to give it.
An alleged sponsor who raises questions
According to Me Montenot, this trafficker ordered these young girls to transport these suitcases whose content they ignored, in exchange for vacation all costs paid in Bangkok.
Ibtissem B. had just won a BTS and was preparing to become a real estate agent. She left for Bangkok on February 14 with her childhood friend Mari. The trip was entirely settled by Taeric O., who paid them plane tickets, hotels and fresh on site.
They were staying in a luxury hotel and chained outings, safaris and swimming pool sessions. 15 days of vacation during which Taeric O. would have transferred funds to them several times.
According to his aunt, it is at Bangkok airport, in the boarding queue, that a man of Thai origin dock the two young women and gives them two padlocks, for Taeric O., and forces them to take them with them in the hold. During the stopover in Istanbul, they were arrested by customs.
“Cellula, they do what they want”
“He imposed on them to report suitcases, indicating that they contained counterfeits,” said his lawyer. “She was trapped,” said her aunt joined by BFMTV, who has already visited her niece at Marmara prison twice.
According to her, all the fault goes to Taeric O., who took advantage of the “naivety” of his niece, “a narcotrafier of Amiens has everything orchestrated with his cell. It is because of this guy in prison that my niece, a naive kid, who is studying her and who did not have to be in prison in Turkey … She did not know what they were.
She wants it to the judicial system and the Keeper of the Seals. “Gérald Darmanin keeps explaining to us that he will prevent traffickers from harming the prisons, but the truth is that in cells, they do what they want”