In a bold political statement, Christian Estrosi, the mayor of Nice, has intensified his campaign against drug trafficking, labeling it as a significant national issue that contributes to insecurity across France. During a recent event in the Albert 1er garden, Estrosi declared, "My France is the one that wages war on drug trafficking and narcoterrorism." He emphasized the need for strict measures, including the withdrawal of social benefits for convicted drug traffickers and their families. With 150 individuals already evicted from social housing in Nice over the past three years, Estrosi aims to expand these measures to include the suspension of family allowances for those connected to drug offenses. This approach mirrors a similar initiative in Grenoble, where the local prosecutor has successfully collaborated with the Family Allowance Fund (CAF) to reduce or eliminate benefits for offenders. Estrosi's strategy reflects a growing concern about drug-related crime and its impact on community safety, calling for a united front against what he describes as "small-time thugs" and larger trafficking networks.
- Estrosi's proposals have sparked a heated debate, with critics arguing that penalizing entire families for the actions of one member could lead to unjust financial hardship. Juliette Chesnel-le Roux, a leader of environmentalists in Nice, expressed her concerns on social media, stating that such measures would unfairly punish innocent family members. Meanwhile, Estrosi remains resolute, insisting that the fight against drug trafficking must be a priority for national policy. He believes that by implementing these measures, they can significantly disrupt the operations of drug dealers and improve the safety of neighborhoods in Nice and beyond. The collaboration with the CAF aims to ensure that illegal income from drug trafficking is accounted for in the calculation of social benefits, thereby discouraging criminal activity.
