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France's 'Prison Break' Operation Seizes 164 Contraband Phones in Nationwide Prison Raids

Coordinated cybercrime crackdown targets illicit phone networks, dismantles supply chains, and launches judicial actions against key operators and users.

Le parquet de Paris a ouvert une information judiciaire ce jeudi. (Image d’illustration)

Overview

  • Authorities conducted simultaneous raids across 66 prisons, inspecting nearly 500 cells and seizing 164 phones, including 88 miniature devices designed to evade detection.
  • The operation resulted in 367 searches, 200 detainee interviews, and the confiscation of approximately 500 phones intended for sale, €70,000 in cash, and €14,000 from a bank account.
  • Judicial proceedings are underway, with two suspects in pretrial detention for operating an illicit transaction platform and user cases referred to 55 local courts for prosecution.
  • Investigations continue into the distribution network of Chinese-designed miniature phones, with the supplier Oportik under scrutiny by an investigating judge.
  • The operation builds on earlier investigations by the Bobigny cybercrime brigade and reflects broader efforts to curb inmate-ordered crimes and enhance prison security across Europe.