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Brazil holds 14 French drug trafficking suspects

Fourteen French people suspected of drug trafficking are being held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, the French foreign ministry said Monday. They were arrested over the past several months, including a woman whose family claims she was lured to Brazil by the promise of a free trip.

File photo: AFP/Mauricio Limau
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"I confirm that fourteen compatriots, arrested over the last few months, are currently being detained in Sao Paulo,” said Bernard Valero, spokesperson for the French foreign ministry.

One of the 14 is Jessica Briffault, 28, who was arrested on 16 November at the airport with 9 kilograms of cocaine.

Valero said that the French consul in Sao Paulo is due to meet with her later Monday at the women’s detention centre where she’s being held.

Her father, Michel Briffault, said that she had been tricked to come to Brazil by the promise of a free trip.

"About 10 days ago she told us about a trip… supposedly to test a tourist package,” he told the AFP news agency on Sunday.

He said Briffault was not the only one, adding that the consul told him there were 14 in total, including several young women who were being held “for the same reason”.

Her sister, Joanna Briffault, told AFP that the women are all from the Paris region.

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