French Government Intensifies Fight Against Narcotrafficking in Prisons with Massive Searches and Legal Reforms

On November 26, 2025, French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin announced a large-scale operation targeting narcotrafficking inside prisons. The operation, beginning at Nanterre prison with around 200 officers, seeks to eradicate drug trafficking and illegal mobile phone use within the incarceration system through extensive searches in all prisons by December 31. The first sweep yielded 70 mobile phones, USB drives, SIM cards, and drugs. Darmanin emphasized the urgent need to eliminate mobile phones, labeling the issue a "national matter" and highlighting how prison "permeability" has allowed criminals to continue their activities even from secure isolation units.

In parallel, Darmanin revealed plans to treat drug traffickers with the same legal severity as terrorists. He announced that a new law will be presented to the Council of Ministers in January to apply stricter prison regimes to narcotraffickers, citing recent events such as the controversial release of narcotrafficker Ouaihid Ben Faïza and the violent escape of Mohamed Amra. This reform aims to enhance prison security and make facilities impervious to illegal acts orchestrated behind bars.

Meanwhile, political figure Éric Ciotti criticized what he considers ineffective justice policies and called for a "quoi qu'il en coûte sécuritaire" (whatever it takes security) approach to combat the escalating narcotraffic and related violence. He specifically pointed out recent events, including the assassination of Mehdi Kessaci in Marseille and expressed concerns about national security challenges beyond prisons.

Together, these actions reflect the French government's commitment to tackling narcotrafficking comprehensively, improving prison security, and reforming legislation to treat drug traffickers with the same stringency as terrorists.