In a significant crackdown on drug trafficking, French authorities have reported a dramatic increase in cocaine seizures, with nearly 45 tonnes confiscated in 2024 alone, which is double the amount seized in the entirety of 2023. This surge in seizures was highlighted by Louis Laugier, the new Director General of the National Police (DGPN), during a Senate Law Commission hearing. Over the first ten months of 2024, the French police have arrested approximately 17,300 traffickers and conducted more than 16,100 operations aimed at dismantling drug dealing networks. Despite the increase in drug seizures, there has been a notable decline in drug-related deaths, with 43 fatalities reported in 2024 compared to 72 in the same period of the previous year.
In a separate but related effort, French law enforcement has also targeted cigarette trafficking, resulting in the seizure of 50 tonnes of tobacco valued at 13 million euros. This operation led to the arrest of 13 individuals as part of an international investigation that began in January 2023. The investigation uncovered a large clandestine cigarette manufacturing facility in Normandy, which was the largest of its kind in France. The case has been taken over by the National Jurisdiction for the Fight against Organized Crime (Junalco), reflecting the serious nature of the criminal activities involved.
