This significant move aims to dismantle drug trafficking networks and increase security for prison staff amid rising violence.
**France Establishes High-Security Prison in the Amazon to Combat Drug Trafficking**
**France Establishes High-Security Prison in the Amazon to Combat Drug Trafficking**
As part of a broader strategy to address organized crime, France is set to build a high-security prison in the Amazon region.
France is taking a bold new step in its struggle against drug trafficking and organized crime by planning to construct a high-security prison in its overseas territory of French Guiana, located within the Amazon rainforest. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin announced this initiative during his recent visit to the region, indicating the facility will focus on incarcerating individuals linked to drug trafficking and radical Islamist activities.
The proposed prison, which comes with a hefty price tag of €400 million (approximately £337 million), is intended to become operational by 2028. It will be situated in a remote area of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, a region known for its strategic location for smuggling routes from neighboring Brazil and Suriname. This site was historically used as a gateway to the notorious Devil's Island penal colony, underscoring its significance in France's penal history.
Darmanin emphasized the need for this new facility due to a series of violent events attributed to criminal gangs in France, including attacks targeting prisons and their staff. The prison will have a capacity of 500 inmates and will include a specialized wing for housing the most dangerous criminals. He described the prison system that would be implemented as "extremely strict," aimed at incapacitating key figures in drug trafficking operations.
With the establishment of this prison, French authorities hope to isolate drug lords from their networks, reducing their ability to coordinate crime from behind bars. This is particularly crucial as mobile phones have proliferated in French jails, complicating efforts to manage these criminal organizations. Recent measures introduced by the government include increased powers for investigators and protections for informants, as well as a specialized prosecutors' office dedicated to tackling organized crime.
However, this initiative comes amidst ongoing violence linked to organized crime, which Darmanin has characterized as "terrorist" acts. In recent months, there have been multiple incidents of attacks on prisons, including vehicle arson and gunfire aimed at prison facilities. Proponents of these actions often portray themselves as defenders of prisoners' rights, adding a layer of complexity to the issue.
As France pushes forward with this high-security prison project, it remains to be seen how effective it will be in disrupting the entrenched networks of drug traffickers that have plagued the nation for years. With the ongoing threats from violent criminal groups, the government acknowledges the urgent need to enhance prison security and dismantle these networks effectively.
The proposed prison, which comes with a hefty price tag of €400 million (approximately £337 million), is intended to become operational by 2028. It will be situated in a remote area of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, a region known for its strategic location for smuggling routes from neighboring Brazil and Suriname. This site was historically used as a gateway to the notorious Devil's Island penal colony, underscoring its significance in France's penal history.
Darmanin emphasized the need for this new facility due to a series of violent events attributed to criminal gangs in France, including attacks targeting prisons and their staff. The prison will have a capacity of 500 inmates and will include a specialized wing for housing the most dangerous criminals. He described the prison system that would be implemented as "extremely strict," aimed at incapacitating key figures in drug trafficking operations.
With the establishment of this prison, French authorities hope to isolate drug lords from their networks, reducing their ability to coordinate crime from behind bars. This is particularly crucial as mobile phones have proliferated in French jails, complicating efforts to manage these criminal organizations. Recent measures introduced by the government include increased powers for investigators and protections for informants, as well as a specialized prosecutors' office dedicated to tackling organized crime.
However, this initiative comes amidst ongoing violence linked to organized crime, which Darmanin has characterized as "terrorist" acts. In recent months, there have been multiple incidents of attacks on prisons, including vehicle arson and gunfire aimed at prison facilities. Proponents of these actions often portray themselves as defenders of prisoners' rights, adding a layer of complexity to the issue.
As France pushes forward with this high-security prison project, it remains to be seen how effective it will be in disrupting the entrenched networks of drug traffickers that have plagued the nation for years. With the ongoing threats from violent criminal groups, the government acknowledges the urgent need to enhance prison security and dismantle these networks effectively.
