Ex-All Black charged with trying to buy cocaine
Former All Blacks lock Ali Williams has been suspended by his French rugby club after he was arrested, alongside ex-Wallabies outside back James O’Connor, for allegedly attempting to buy cocaine.
Williams, who is a player and special adviser for Racing 92 in Paris, and O’Connor, who plays for Toulon in the south of France, were in Paris during a one-week break in the Top 14 competition.
The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed a La Chaine Info (LCI) – The News Channel in English – report that the arrest took place in front of a famous nightclub in central Paris about 3am on Saturday (3pm Saturday NZ time).
The pair were taken into custody by plainclothes policemen after being spotted in a car allegedly paying two suspected drug dealers €200 (NZ$293) in exchange for cocaine, LCI reported.
Williams and O’Connor will be held in police custody for up to 24 hours.
Under French law they must be released after that point, unless there are specific circumstances which would justify an additional 24 hours.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed Williams had not contacted the New Zealand Embassy for consular assistance.
Drug use is illegal in France and carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a €3750 fine.
Users may also be ordered to attend an awareness programme about the dangers of drug use, or to undergo court-ordered therapy.
At the time of arrest, Williams allegedly attempted to throw three packets of cocaine on the ground, which were immediately picked up by investigators.
Described as intoxicated and unable to produce identification, the pair would be notified of their rights by police once they left the sobering cell, LCI reported.
The two suspected drug dealers were also arrested.
Racing 92 said in a statement that Williams had been suspended as a precautionary measure.
The arrests come days after another former All Black, Dan Carter, allegedly failed a drinkdriving test in France. Carter also plays for Racing 92, the defending French champions.
Williams, 35, retired from rugby after the 2014-15 season but returned to action this season.
He played two seasons for Toulon from 2013 to 2015, where O’Connor was a team-mate.
Toulon sit fifth in the Top 14, while defending champions Racing sit one point out of the topsix playoffs.