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Shocking case/ Renowned Albanian violinist caught in France with 38 kg of cocaine and an arsenal of weapons
2026-08-15 10:19:00 / AKTUALITET
Albanian violinist caught with 38.3 kg of cocaine and an arsenal of weapons: the contract for the transport was 20 thousand euros
By Gregory Leclerc, NICE MATIN
An unusual case has shocked the Criminal Court of Nice in France.
BB, 45, a Frenchman of Albanian origin and professional violinist, was arrested at the La Turbie toll booth after customs officers discovered 38.3 kilograms of cocaine hidden in the floor of his vehicle.
The violinist, who is a member of the Victor-Hugo Bourgogne Franche-Comté symphony orchestra and has performed in prestigious venues, was traveling to Italy in a Citroën C5 Aircross.
Customs officers noticed a suspicious bulge under the passenger seat carpet. The check revealed two modified spaces in the floor, where the drugs were hidden.
20 thousand euros for transportation
In court, the 45-year-old said he had agreed to transport the drugs for 20,000 euros. He claimed he had been drawn into the story through acquaintances made during a trip to Albania and denied that he had been threatened.
According to customs, the cocaine would have a retail value of around 1,141,000 euros.
But investigators were faced with another, even more disturbing discovery.
At home: weapons, ammunition and 88,900 euros in cash
During a search of his apartment in France, authorities found:
-4 firearms
-2 rifles
-a bulletproof vest
-hundreds of bullets
-88,900 euros in cash, divided into 50-euro banknotes and wrapped in plastic.
Regarding the weapons, the violinist stated that he was registered as a sports shooter, although some of them were allegedly undeclared. Regarding the money, he said it came from a donation from his father.
Prosecutor Sabine Néale expressed strong doubts about his version, especially due to the arsenal found in the apartment and the sophisticated way of hiding the cocaine.
She warned the court not to be misled by the defendant's public profile, describing him as a man who might appear "regular on the surface," while his manner of acting could indicate a highly professional organization.
Asked one last time, before the court retired to make its decision, BB whispered: "I can't comprehend the magnitude of what I've done. I understand that I'm going to lose everything."
His lawyer requested that he be released until the full trial, highlighting his integration into society, his musical career, and the fact that he had no criminal record. The court decided otherwise: the violinist was sent to detention.
He will be tried in October and faces up to 10 years in prison for the offense in question.
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