1990 – Arms trafficking by French police officers in Lebanon

In 1990, a network trafficking weapons of war from Lebanon was dismantled in France. The weapons, found in the hands of French criminals, had been transported on military aircraft. It emerged that police officers stationed in Beirut during the bombings had smuggled the weapons. However, the gendarmes involved were never troubled, unlike the police officers.

Sergeant Labourdette, because of his rank and his supposed closeness to a minister, became the central figure in the trial. Philippe Vouland, instructed to defend him, had to prove that his client had played no part in the trafficking, despite the suspicions and unfounded accusations aimed at tarnishing a minister’s reputation.

Philippe Vouland succeeded in demonstrating Sergeant Labourdette’s innocence by highlighting his lack of involvement in the trafficking by military aircraft. Thanks to an eloquent statement from the French ambassador to Lebanon, he was able to bring to light Labourdette’s excellent service record in extremely dangerous circumstances. This robust defence enabled Labourdette to regain his freedom during the proceedings and to remain free at the end of the trial.

Sergeant Labourdette was released during the proceedings and remained free at the end of the trial.

Read an article in Le Monde on the case (in French): Link to the article