France's Prisons Under Siege: Coordinated Attacks Highlight Drug Trafficking Crisis
The national terrorism office in France has initiated an investigation following a spate of seemingly coordinated attacks on multiple prisons throughout the country, believed to be in relation to a recent government crackdown on drug traffickers. In the early hours of Tuesday, gunmen armed with automatic weapons opened fire at the entrance of Toulon prison in southern France. Moreover, in recent days, cars have been set ablaze outside four other correctional facilities, and a residential building inhabited by prison guards in Marseille was also targeted.
These attacks coincide with the French parliament's deliberations on a new law aimed at bolstering the powers of police dedicated to investigating drug dealers. This legislation seeks to toughen conditions within prisons for convicted traffickers and establish a new office of prosecutors tasked with tackling organized crime. The backdrop to this turmoil is a surge in cocaine imports from South America, which has sparked drug-related violence in France. Police reports indicate historic highs in cocaine seizures as traditional drug gangs, predominantly based in urban centers like Marseille, begin to infiltrate smaller towns unaccustomed to such violence.
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin was scheduled to visit Toulon prison on Tuesday afternoon, expressing solidarity with the staff. Darmanin reiterated his commitment to dismantling the operational capabilities of drug kingpins, even from within prison walls, announcing plans for the construction of two new high-security correctional facilities to accommodate over 700 inmates.
Prison staff have faced severe intimidation, with various tactics employed by gangs, including arson attacks on vehicles and gunfire targeted at prison environments. The situation has prompted Darmanin to declare, "The French Republic is confronting the issue of drug trafficking and enacting measures intended to significantly disrupt criminal networks. The government stands firm and resolute against this challenge."
Prisons located in Marseille, AixenProvence, Valence, Nîmes, Luynes, Villepinte, and Nanterre all experienced targeted assaults. Staff unions reported that burned vehicles had been discovered in prison parking lots days before what seemed to be the coordinated attack on Monday night. In addition, arson attacks have occurred outside the National School of Prison Administration, raising concerns over the safety of personnel.
The legislative measures currently being considered in parliament would permit isolation for convicted drug traffickers, curtailing opportunities for family visitation and restricting recreational activities. Furthermore, it would enable the tapping of prisoners' telephone communications and impose limits on outgoing calls. Darmanin is also advocating for expanded authority for the justice minister regarding solitary confinement, proposing that isolation orders, which now require renewal every three months, could potentially be extended to four years. This provision would apply to both convicted traffickers and those awaiting trial.
The assignment of the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office (PNAT) to lead the investigation, rather than the organized crime unit, suggests that authorities suspect involvement from a militant group behind these attacks. The interior minister, Bruno Retailleau, condemned the assaults as intolerable and has mandated enhanced police protection for prisons and their staff.
In a statement made in February, Retailleau highlighted record seizures of cocaine, reporting 47 tonnes confiscated in the first 11 months of last year—more than double the amount seized in 2023. He had previously remarked that France was inundated by a "white tsunami" of drug trafficking, fundamentally shifting the dynamics of organized crime across the nation.
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