The investigation began in 2017, when inspectors from the regional authority DREAL Bourgogne-Franche-Comté uncovered a system in which Gefco and its subcontractors “rented” drivers through foreign entities. The drivers, many from Eastern Europe, were employed in France under arrangements that bypassed local labour and social security laws. Some were housed in poor conditions, including 35 individuals living in makeshift accommodation in the town of Quincey.
In March 2021, ten people were detained, including five Gefco managers, led by the then-president of the company. They were charged with illegal employment and involvement in an organised criminal group. Three managers from a company in Alsace, with links to Poland and Slovakia, were also indicted – one of whom was arrested.
Trial delays and verdict
The trial, initially scheduled for October 2024, was postponed due to a procedural issue – Gefco had not been formally charged with participation in an organised group. Once that charge was dropped, the retrial took place in April 2025 and lasted five days.
Although the court did not find that the drivers’ working conditions were degrading, it imposed strict penalties for illegal employment, including charges relating to organised criminal activity.
Penalties issued across multiple countries
“Gefco deliberately resorted to undeclared work,” said a representative of France’s Central Office for Combating Illegal Employment (OCLTI), explaining that the company subcontracted driver employment to four firms – one in Alsace, two in Poland, and one in Slovakia.
In the ruling, Gefco SA (now CEVA Logistics Europe) was fined €150,000, while Gefco France (now CEVA Logistics Ground and Rail France) was fined €300,000.
One of the Polish subcontractors, Turski, was fined €100,000, with €50,000 of that amount suspended. The court chose not to impose a business ban on the company, citing concern for its employees. The company has announced it will appeal the decision.
Another subcontractor from Poland, the now-defunct Poltra, was fined €15,000 (including €5,000 suspended) and banned from operating for five years.
Christian Haas, described by prosecutors as the main orchestrator of the illegal employment scheme, received a €100,000 fine, a suspended 12-month prison sentence, and a lifetime ban on operating a business. Camille Haas, also involved in the case, was fined €50,000 (half suspended) and banned from running a business for ten years.
The Slovak company Eskaya was fined €25,000 and banned from operating for five years, similar to Poltra.
Additionally, URSSAF – France’s social security agency – is to receive at least €600,000 in unpaid contributions from those convicted.
Compliance warning for European hauliers
While the court did not deem the drivers’ working conditions to be inhumane, the case sets a precedent for the European transport sector. It underscores that cross-border employment arrangements must fully comply with national and EU legislation. Business models that attempt to exploit legal grey areas can lead to severe consequences – financial, legal, and reputational.
