Gérald Darmanin Unveils Aggressive Anti-Narcotics Justice Strategy

France's new Justice Minister prioritizes isolating top drug traffickers, combating prison corruption, and increasing detention capacity.

Gérald Darmanin, recently appointed as France's Justice Minister, has announced a plan to isolate the 100 most significant drug traffickers in solitary confinement to disrupt their operations from prison.
The strategy includes expanding prison capacity to address overcrowding and implementing stricter measures, such as enhanced surveillance and restricted privileges for high-risk inmates.
Darmanin is pushing for the widespread installation of cell phone signal jammers in prisons to prevent illicit communications, though the high costs and technical challenges have sparked debate.
The minister aims to target drug traffickers' finances by enforcing laws allowing the confiscation of assets, including those exceeding the value of the crime, to weaken their operations.
Efforts to combat corruption within the justice system, including harsher penalties for those who bribe or threaten state officials, are central to Darmanin's broader reform agenda.