Announced by Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, France's new high-security prison in the Amazon jungle will target organized crime and is expected to be operational by 2028. The €400 million facility will house up to 500 inmates, including the most dangerous criminals, and seek to disrupt drug trafficking networks.
France to Establish High-Security Prison in Amazon to Combat Organized Crime
France to Establish High-Security Prison in Amazon to Combat Organized Crime
The French government unveils plans for a state-of-the-art prison in French Guiana aimed at housing drug traffickers and addressing escalating criminal activities.
France is set to tackle its persistent struggle against organized crime with plans to construct a high-security prison in French Guiana, nestled deep in the Amazon jungle. The announcement was made by Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin during a recent visit to the overseas territory, as part of a strategy to combat drug trafficking and radical Islamist activities in the region.
With a staggering budget of €400 million (£337 million), the new facility is projected to become operational as early as 2028. The location chosen for the prison is in an isolated zone of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, specifically selected to mitigate the influence of drug lords who currently operate across distances in mainland France. This decision follows a notable wave of violent incidents attributed to criminal gangs, which had successfully targeted prisons and their staff in recent months.
Darmanin emphasized the importance of this prison, remarking that it will harbor up to 500 inmates and will include a wing for the most dangerous criminals. He elaborated that the facility will implement an "extremely strict carceral regime" to ensure the incapacitation of key figures within the drug trafficking landscape. This initiative is expected to allow officials to detain individuals at the roots of the drug supply chain while creating a lasting solution to neutralize criminal networks.
French Guiana, located on the northeast coast of South America, provides its inhabitants access to voting rights in French elections and participation in the French social security system. The unique context of this territory means that its geographical distance significantly limits drug lords' connections with their organizations in mainland France, as pointed out by Darmanin.
In recent years, authorities have grappled with the rampant infiltration of mobile phones inside prison walls, contributing to the chaotic environment that criminal organizations thrive in. Earlier this year, the French government enacted legislation aimed at curbing the activities of organized crime groups by establishing a specialized branch within the prosecutor's office enhanced with additional powers for investigators and provisions protecting informants.
The announcement of this new prison comes in the wake of several recent prison attacks that the Justice Minister has classified as "terrorist" incidents. These assaults involved setting fire to vehicles outside prisons and gunfire targeting facilities including La Farlede prison in Toulon. The ongoing attacks, perpetrated by individuals claiming to advocate for prisoner rights, underscore the urgent need for enhanced prison security and operations.
The strategic implications of building the prison in French Guiana also cannot be overlooked. The site is noted as a pivotal point for drug smuggling routes, particularly from neighboring countries such as Brazil and Suriname. The history of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni as a former entry point to the notorious Devil's Island penal colony adds a layer of significance to this new facility, which aims not only to solve present-day issues of crime but also to break the cycle of violence that has plagued French prisons for years.
