Overview
- Police in Annecy intercepted a vehicle carrying 486 nitrous oxide canisters packed in 82 boxes, placed the driver in custody, and opened an inquiry into the supply network.
- Haute‑Savoie has barred public consumption for six months, with the prefect citing 2025 incidents including fights, domestic violence, and serious road crashes to justify the order.
- New temporary prohibitions include Hauts‑de‑Seine through January 4, Morbihan from December 29 to January 2, and Seine‑Saint‑Denis through mid‑January, alongside measures in Meurthe‑et‑Moselle.
- The anti‑narcotics office Ofast reports trafficking is expanding, and law‑enforcement controls are being reinforced in response to rising recreational use.
- A 2021 law bans sales to minors yet the product remains easily available in shops, and Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin supports treating it as a drug with aggravated penalties in accidents.