While the settling of scores against a backdrop of drug trafficking is increasing in France, the Ministers of the Interior and Justice, Bruno Retailleau and Didier Migaud, were in Marseille on Friday November 8 to announce measures intended to strengthen the fight against drug trafficking, against which the executive is calling for “general mobilization”. During a joint press conference, the two ministers revealed the broad outlines of their plan against organized crime.
Speaking first, the Minister of Justice announced the establishment, “in the coming weeks”of a “national coordination cell” to fight against this “scourge”. “There is no inevitability, politics is a weapon to fight against this crime”he assured, saying he wished “provide the means to prevent, prosecute, judge and punish”. This cell will be responsible, among other things, for “draw up a state of the threat, [de] set an operational strategy and implement it »explained Didier Migaud, specifying that “the teams of the Paris prosecutor's office working on the fight against organized crime at the national level [seraient] thus reinforced by 40%”.
The Minister of Justice said thus « favorable » to the creation of a “true national prosecutor’s office”. He also said he was considering the judgment of “organized gang crimes”, linked in particular to narcotics, by special assize courts, composed exclusively of professional magistrates, like terrorism cases. Use only professional magistrates rather than popular juries, which normally make up assize courts, “would remove the risk of pressure exerted on the jurors with a view to guiding the final judicial decision”declared the Minister of Justice. Didier Migaud also mentioned the status of repentant, whose protection he wishes to improve.
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The Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, has drawn the parallel several times between organized crime and terrorism, believing that “the existential threat [était] the same »or even that it was more important regarding organized crime because it caused more victims, and thus wishes to establish it as « cause nationale ». Evoking a few ideas, such as the possibility of creating a “ban on appearing on and around the point of the deal” for a trafficker identified by the courts, the Minister of the Interior promised that “the octopus” drug trafficking was going “perish”. “It will take fifteen, twenty years, it will be difficult, he admitted. But when there is political will, we get there. »
Traffic turnover estimated between 3.5 and 6 billion euros
“The threat has increased and requires the State to arm itself more”had launched the Minister of Justice in an interview with Provence earlier Friday. “Cocaine seizures have increased fivefold in ten years, the hardest drugs are available in all territories and all the time. The rejuvenation of people who kill and are killed is appalling. Drug trafficking is a root cause of violence and corruption”added Mr. Retailleau.
MM. Retailleau and Migaud were received by the mayor of Marseille, Benoît Payan, then went to the Bouches-du-Rhône prefecture, where they met associations and families of victims of assassinations linked to drug trafficking. The Minister of the Interior was then to meet the police troops of the northern districts, while Didier Migaud was to go to the Baumettes prison and to the Marseille judicial court, where he would discuss with the heads of court and jurisdiction as well as with the staff of the specialized interregional jurisdiction (JIRS).
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After several deadly shootings linked to drug trafficking, Bruno Retailleau had promised a « guerre » long and merciless campaign against this trafficking, whose turnover is estimated between 3.5 and 6 billion euros per year in France. The measures had already been reviewed on Thursday during a meeting between the two ministers and the head of government, Michel Barnier. The plan will include “better organization of specialized courts, new means of investigation for law enforcement and magistrates”of the “additional measures” on detainees, minors and illicit online content, the Prime Minister detailed on X.
“More police, more repression and no results”
The two men will have to search “a transpartisan consensus” based on the bill from senators Etienne Blanc (Les Républicains, Rhône) and Jérôme Durain (Socialist Party, Saône-et-Loire), which he received last week. The text, which must be examined on January 27, 2025 by the Senate, proposes in particular to recalibrate the Anti-Narcotics Office (Ofast) into a real “French DEA”named after the American drug control agency, and to create a national anti-narcotics prosecution (Pnast). “Insoumis” and socialists have simultaneously put on the table a certain number of proposals to fight against organized crime and drug trafficking, including the legalization of cannabis, a “health approach” and additional resources.
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On the ground, expectations are enormous. “What if we signaled the end of this show that started several months ago? Several ministers came, Emmanuel Macron came and, ultimately, each time, with the same response: more police, more repression and no results […]. What people are asking is that we talk about their housing, security in the neighborhoods, the responsibility of social landlords”was indignant Amine Kessaci, spokesperson for the Conscience association, on RTL.
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“We must review the texts, organizations and means in response to violence that has become limitless, to the corruption of minds and practices, to the financial impact of networks”estimated Franck Rastoul, general prosecutor of the Aix-en-Provence Court of Appeal. Another judicial source mentioned “an asphyxiation of the judicial system”believing that just in Marseille “750 detained and indicted” constitute organized crime. “The fight against drug banditry is a great national cause, and we must change gear. But does the budgetary context allow it? »she asks herself.
In 2023, 49 deaths linked to drug trafficking were recorded in Marseille, including seven minors, a record. Most of these murders took place against the backdrop of a war between the DZ Mafia and Yoda gangs for control of drug sales outlets. Since the start of the year, 17 narcocides have been recorded in the city. This gang war involves younger and younger teenagers.
