Six People Tried for Drug Trafficking
- Five face charges related to organized crime, one for drug trafficking.
- The trial of five men and a woman, all in their thirties, suspected of involvement in a 2019 shooting in Nantes, France, began Monday before a specialized organized...
- the shooting occurred during the night of April 22-23, 2019, at the Moonlight, a chicha bar in Nantes.
Trial Opens in 2019 Nantes Shooting that Killed Bar Employee
Table of Contents
Five face charges related to organized crime, one for drug trafficking.
The trial of five men and a woman, all in their thirties, suspected of involvement in a 2019 shooting in Nantes, France, began Monday before a specialized organized crime court in Rennes. The trial was originally scheduled for last October.
the shooting occurred during the night of April 22-23, 2019, at the Moonlight, a chicha bar in Nantes. Monceff Mjidou, 24, an employee of the bar, was killed. He is believed to have been an unintended victim of a dispute.
Initially, five defendants were to be tried for murder and attempted murder as part of organized crime. However, those charges were dropped in June 2024. Now, five defendants face charges of criminal association related to the planning of a crime, while the sixth is charged with drug trafficking.
“judicial Hiccup”
According to the Rennes Court of Appeal’s investigation chamber in its June 2024 judgment, the events constitute the epilogue of a series of shootings that occurred in Nantes
in April 2019 and were likely part of a dispute between Mohamed A. and Issam L. in the context of drug trafficking.
Defense attorney Benoît Poquet criticized what he called the fiasco
of the investigation, claiming it sought to fill in an incomplete puzzle.
He told AFP, I have a thoght for the relatives of the victim, that this judicial hiccup deprives of the truth.
Another defense lawyer, Morgan Loret, criticized the instruction based on anonymous information delivered to investigators,
who he said collected elements to keep a theory, rather of collecting elements in order to develop a theory.
During the investigation, Mohamed A. admitted to selling drugs
but denied involvement in the Moonlight shooting. He is currently in custody. Four defendants, including his partner, are free. The remaining defendant is subject to an arrest warrant and is considered a fugitive.
Prior to the shooting, elements of the procedure tend to demonstrate
that Mohamed A. wanted enough
of the guard tutelage L.,
which is why he would have been the subject of retaliatory measures,
according to the investigating chamber.
Five men were sentenced in January by the Ille-et-Vilaine Assize Court for involvement in several shootings in April 2019. Mohamed A. had previously been targeted in a shooting outside his home. The trial is scheduled to continue until April 1.
Nantes Shooting trial: Key Questions Answered
This article provides a complete Q&A on the 2019 Nantes shooting, offering key insights into the ongoing trial and the events surrounding the tragic incident.
What Happened in the 2019 Nantes Shooting?
The shooting occured during the night of April 22-23, 2019, at the Moonlight, a chicha bar in Nantes, France. 24-year-old Monceff Mjidou, an employee of the bar, was killed.Authorities believe he was not the intended target, but rather an unintended victim of a dispute.
Who is on Trial and What Are the Charges?
Five men and one woman are on trial, all in their thirties, suspected of involvement in the shooting.
Initially, five defendants were to be tried for murder and attempted murder as part of organized crime.
These charges were dropped in June 2024.
Current charges:
Five defendants face charges of criminal association related to the planning of a crime.
The sixth defendant is charged with drug trafficking.
When Did the Trial Start and when Will it End?
The trial began on March 24, 2025, before a specialized organized crime court in Rennes. It is scheduled to continue until April 1.
What Role did Drug Trafficking Play?
The shooting is believed to be linked to drug trafficking activities. The Rennes Court of Appeal’s investigation chamber stated that the events “constitute the epilogue of a series of shootings that occurred in Nantes in April 2019” and were “likely part of a dispute between Mohamed A. and Issam L. in the context of drug trafficking.” Mohamed A. admitted to selling drugs but denied involvement.
What Has Been the Response from Those involved?
Defense attorneys have criticized the investigation.Benoît Poquet called it a “fiasco” and claimed it deprived the victim’s relatives of the truth.another lawyer, Morgan Loret, criticized the instruction based on anonymous facts delivered to investigators.
Mohamed A., during the investigation, admitted involvement in selling drugs but denied any involvement in the Moonlight shooting. He is currently in custody.
Four defendants, including his partner, are free.
* The remaining defendant is subject to an arrest warrant and is considered a fugitive.
Summary of Key Information
| Aspect | Details |
| ——————— | —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————– |
| Incident Date | April 22-23,2019 |
| Location | Moonlight chicha bar,Nantes,France |
| Victim | Monceff Mjidou,24,bar employee |
| Defendants | 5 men and 1 woman |
| Original Charges | Murder and attempted murder as part of organized crime |
| Current Charges | Criminal association related to the planning of a crime (5 defendants),drug trafficking (1 defendant) |
| Trial Start Date | March 24,2025 |
| Trial End Date | April 1 |
| Alleged Cause | Dispute related to drug trafficking activities involving Mohamed A. and Issam L. |