Overview

• Renovations have started at Vendin-le-Vieil and Condé-sur-Sarthe to create high-security facilities for 200 of France's most dangerous narcotraffickers.
• The prisons will implement strict isolation measures modeled after Italy's 41 bis system, including videoconferencing to replace in-person judicial visits.
• Vendin-le-Vieil is being cleared of current inmates, with transfers expected to conclude by early May, ahead of its operational start on July 31.
• The transformation, costing approximately €10 million, includes video surveillance, anti-drone systems, and specialized training for 250 prison staff.
• High-profile inmates, including Mohamed Amra, Salah Abdeslam, and Rédoine Faïd, are among those slated for transfer under this new regime.