France has been shaken by a series of violent attacks against several prisons in recent days, a response that, according to authorities, is directly related to the tightening of government measures against drug trafficking, especially cocaine trafficking.
On Monday night, seven penitentiary establishments were attacked in different regions of the country, including Toulon, Aix-En-Provence, Marseille, Valence, Nîmes, Villepinte, and Nanterre.
One of the most serious incidents occurred at the Toulon prison, where military-grade automatic weapons were fired at the entrance of the establishment. According to the UFAP prison officers' union, vehicles were also set on fire in the vicinity of several prisons.
In Nancy, a prison officer was threatened at his own home, while in Marseille an attempt was made to start a fire. The previous Sunday, seven vehicles had been burned in front of the National School of Penitentiary Administration.
The Minister of Justice, Gérald Darmanin, described these acts as attempts at intimidation and announced his visit to Toulon to support the affected prison staff.
In a post on X, he stated that "the French Republic is facing the problem of drug trafficking" and that measures are being implemented that "will deeply disrupt criminal networks."
The increase in cocaine trafficking from South America (Bolivia, Colombia) has radically transformed the criminal landscape in Europe, and France has been no exception.
In 2024, cocaine seizures have doubled, reaching a record 47 tons in the first 11 months of the year, compared to 23 tons in all of 2023.
This has led to an expansion of drug trafficking from traditional cities like Marseille to smaller towns that were, until recently, less affected by drug-related violence.
The Ministry of the Interior, led by Bruno Retailleau, also condemned the attacks, calling them "cowardly and despicable," and ordered an immediate reinforcement of security in all penitentiary facilities.
