French police are on a mission to seize illicit miniature phones used by inmates for criminal activities. The cybercrime unit has launched "Operation Prison Break," searching 500 cells in 66 facilities following the arrest of staff from the supplier Oportik.
French Authorities Crack Down on Miniature Phones Used by Inmates
French Authorities Crack Down on Miniature Phones Used by Inmates
A nationwide operation, dubbed "Operation Prison Break," targets tiny contraband phones enabling prison inmates to commit crimes.
French authorities have initiated a significant operation to locate and confiscate thousands of miniature Chinese-made mobile phones, often used by inmates to maintain criminal enterprises from within prison walls. These devices, roughly the size of a cigarette lighter, are predominantly made of plastic and are notorious for being almost undetectable by standard metal detectors.
Launched by the Paris prosecutor's office's cybercrime division, "Operation Prison Break" aims to conduct searches in 500 cells across 66 detention facilities. According to reports from Le Monde, the small phones have a notorious nickname among inmates—“suppositories,” highlighting their ease of concealment.
Investigation findings reveal that these contraband phones have facilitated a range of illegal activities from behind bars, including drug trafficking, racketeering, arson, and even attempted murder, as confirmed by a statement from the prosecutor's office. Oportik, a French firm believed to be the primary supplier, has been halted from further trading, resulting in the arrest of three employees. The company is thought to have marketed approximately 5,000 of these devices, with the least expensive unit priced around €20 (£16.84).
Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin has expressed a strong commitment to combatting drug syndicates and other organized crime, asserting that many criminal leaders remain operational while incarcerated. In 2024, around 40,000 mobile phones were confiscated in French prisons, with many delivered through drones or thrown over prison barriers. While measures like phone-jamming exist in some facilities, effectiveness remains in question.
Though the miniature phones are legally produced in China, supplying an inmate with such a device is illegal. The French prosecutor's office has also shared their strategies for tracking the distributor with Eurojust, the EU's judicial cooperation agency, to assist other nations in similar enforcement efforts.
