French Assembly Delays Final Vote on Controversial Anti-Drug Law

Key amendments, including extended detention for drug couriers and remote surveillance measures, approved as debates on civil liberties persist.

The National Assembly approved extending detention for drug couriers ('mules') to 120 hours, reinstating a measure previously removed in committee.
Lawmakers also approved the remote activation of connected devices for surveillance in organized crime cases, a provision previously contested in court.
Additional amendments include harsher penalties for traffickers, such as aggravated sentences for offenses involving weapons and bans for foreign offenders sentenced to over five years.
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin supported the amendments but emphasized the need for refinements to address civil liberties concerns.
The final vote on the anti-drug law, initially scheduled for March 25, has been postponed due to incomplete discussions, with debates set to resume later this week.