France Seizes Record 47 Tons of Cocaine in 2024
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau calls the surge in drug confiscations an 'existential threat' and announces new measures to combat organized crime.
- French authorities seized nearly 47 tons of cocaine during the first 11 months of 2024, more than doubling the 23 tons confiscated in 2023.
- The port of Le Havre accounted for 78% of all port seizures, with 13 tons of cocaine intercepted there in 2024 alone.
- Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau compared the fight against narcotrafficking to counter-terrorism, calling for enhanced coordination and legislative tools.
- A new national anti-crime prosecutor's office and a port intelligence unit at Le Havre are among the proposed measures to strengthen law enforcement efforts.
- Retailleau also endorsed isolating the top 100 narcotraffickers in high-security prisons to prevent them from orchestrating crimes while incarcerated.
Le Figaro 
Le Nouvel Obs 