French Assembly Debates Divisive Anti-Drug Trafficking Bill

The government seeks to restore controversial surveillance and detention measures as opposition raises civil liberties concerns.

The bill proposes creating a National Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime to streamline judicial efforts against drug networks.
Contentious measures include the 'dossier-coffre,' which would restrict defense lawyers' access to investigative materials, and encrypted messaging access for investigators.
The Assembly's law commission removed several provisions, citing civil liberties concerns, but the government plans to reintroduce them during debates.
The rise in drug trafficking, including a 130% increase in cocaine smuggling in 2024, is a key justification used by proponents of the bill.
Opposition parties and rights groups argue that some measures, such as high-security detention regimes, undermine fundamental rights and the rule of law.