A sea scooter on the French Riviera (photo illustration). – Mel Longhurst VW / SUPERSTOCK / SIPA
Seven people were arrested this Wednesday morning in Marseille, announces prosecutor Dominique Laurens to 20 minutes. These individuals, two women and five men, are suspected of having organized maritime activities illegally, we learned from a source close to the investigation, confirming information from RTL.
Here are some photos of the tourist complex in question. “At the base they hosted hippies for free, then the person sold the association by making believe that it was legal”, says Sam *, a resident of the district. 1/5 #Marseille https://t.co/6iinSeSnuh pic.twitter.com/mT2nzZXaiU
– Jean Saint-Marc (@JeanSaintMarc) July 30, 2020
Thanks to reports from residents, the police of the North Division discovered that the “Concept Renov” rehabilitation association, supposed to repair nautical equipment, was in fact offering lucrative activities during the summer season.
“They rented boats, sometimes even with a skipper, launched sea scooters, a hookah bar, a snack bar, two hotel rooms and even a bar with a roof top”, lists one source close to the investigation. They regularly went to the Calanques National Park without any authorization.
250,000 euros in revenue per month
All “in full view and in the knowledge of everyone” at the Quai de la Lave, at L’Estaque. The suspects, five men and two women aged 24 to 50, could earn nearly 250,000 euros per month, according to estimates by investigators from the Regional Intervention Group (GIR) of the judicial police.
VIDEO. Rooftops: Why we gain to gain height in Paris https://t.co/Z4aZBonN1O via @ 20minutesParis pic.twitter.com/0M1YvpxlRr
– 20minutes Paris / IDF (@ 20minutesparis) August 3, 2019
Local residents ended up reporting the many comings and goings. The investigation, which lasted several weeks, made it possible to arrest seven people. An eighth suspect will be arrested soon, we hope at the Bishop’s Palace.