Overview

• The planned 500-place prison will include 60 high-security spaces for top narcotraffickers and 15 for radicalized detainees, under strict detention protocols.
• The facility is part of France’s broader anti-narcotrafficking strategy, aiming to sever organized crime leaders from their networks.
• Located in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, the site carries historical resonance as a former penal colony and serves as a key cocaine trafficking hub.
• The €400 million project awaits final building permit approval by the local prefect, with groundbreaking expected soon after.
• Critics highlight concerns over the symbolic link to colonial history and the lack of consultation with local officials in the decision-making process.