Espionage Unveiled: Two Suspected Chinese Spies Arrested in French Village

Sat Feb 07 2026 00:08:41 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Authorities arrest two Chinese nationals in Camblanes-et-Meynac for espionage activities, reportedly aiming to intercept sensitive satellite communications.

In a surprising revelation, two suspected Chinese spies were arrested in the quiet village of Camblanes-et-Meynac, France. These individuals, aged 27 and 29, were accused of setting up a parabolic antenna to capture satellite data, coinciding with disruptions in local internet services. The arrests highlight an increasing espionage threat in southwestern France, particularly near vital defense and aerospace sites.

In a turning point for regional security, two suspected Chinese spies have been apprehended in the small village of Camblanes-et-Meynac, located roughly 15 miles from Bordeaux. This peaceful community became the center of scrutiny when residents observed the men, aged 27 and 29, erecting a large parabolic antenna in their garden after renting a property through Airbnb.

Locals grew suspicious as they experienced disruptions in their internet service, coinciding with the antenna's installation. Intelligence experts suggest this incident underscores a growing trend of espionage targeting southwestern France, which is strategically positioned near key defense, aerospace, and telecommunications installations.

French authorities, particularly the General Directorate for Internal Security (DGSI), took immediate action, launching a raid on the residence last Saturday. They confiscated a significant amount of computer equipment and detained the suspects for questioning in Paris. The men have been charged with delivering information to a foreign power, a serious offense that underscores the potential threat to national interests.

According to the prosecutor’s office, the suspects entered France under work visas, claiming to be engineers specializing in wireless communications. Their operations reportedly involved attempts to capture satellite data from Elon Musk's Starlink network as well as military communications, potentially transmitting this information back to China.

This incident is not isolated; there have been previous instances of suspected espionage in southwestern France. Last summer, another Chinese engineer was detained for similar activities, which involve the interception of military communications. The ongoing espionage threats indicate a shift from covert to more publicly acknowledged handling by French authorities, reflecting increased vigilance against espionage activities.

As the village mayor, Jean-Philippe Guillemeot remarked, this revelation has left residents bemused. Here we tend to get artists, not spies, he said, perhaps capturing the contrast between the village's quiet reputation and the serious implications of the arrest.