Interior and Justice present measures to tackle organized crime

The French Ministers of the Interior and Justice today unveiled their strategy for fighting organized crime and bringing drug trafficking to its knees.

Describing organized crime as a «tentacular menace» that harms innocent people and social cohesion, Didier Migaud stressed the need for a decisive response. Their plan, drawn largely from a recent Senate report, is built around a series of immediate actions, followed by legislative reforms that they believe will create a «united front» in the fight against organized crime and enable them to finally win the «war on drugs».

First phase: immediate action for prevention, prosecution and protection

The first phase of the plan includes several immediate actions targeting crime from multiple angles. The plan includes a public awareness campaign designed to sensitize France's 5 million illegal drug users to the links between drug use and violence and the exploitation of organized crime.

They are calling for stiffer fines and better recovery, which barely exceeds 35% today, The recently announced anti-corruption plan, which will be launched in collaboration with the French Anti-Corruption Agency (AFA), is aimed at closing off the access points that organized crime might have to companies and public bodies. The recently announced anti-corruption plan, to be launched in collaboration with the French Anti-Corruption Agency (AFA), aims to close the access points that organized crime might have within companies and administrative bodies.

The anti-narco plan also focuses on improving investigative capabilities. It calls for wider deployment of digital forensic tools and greater emphasis on financial investigations.

«Criminal networks don't stop at borders,» emphasized Didier Migaud, calling for stronger international partnerships, particularly in countries that serve as sources for drug trafficking.

Mr. Migaud has announced the installation of a liaison magistrate in Colombia to strengthen international cooperation. In Europe, he is stepping up efforts by adding a fourth magistrate to France's Permanent Representation to the European Union, with the ultimate aim of creating a European judicial shield against organized crime.

Prosecutions will be based on a streamlined, well-coordinated structure, with the emphasis on a national coordination unit for organized crime cases and on increasing the number of prosecution teams, particularly in high-impact regions such as Marseille.

This unified approach will enable local prosecutors to work closely with national and regional teams, while data-sharing systems and centralized information management will ensure efficient, collaborative case handling.

Second phase: legislative reforms for lasting change

While immediate measures form the backbone of the plan, the Ministry of Justice recognizes the need for more permanent legal changes, which it hopes will be adopted by Parliament in the coming months. Among the proposed reforms is a new support framework for «repentant» traffickers, including incentive sentences for those who help law enforcement. Didier Migaud's proposal also calls for enhanced investigative capabilities in organized crime cases, notably by extending certain interrogation practices currently used in terrorism cases to organized crime investigations.

On the judicial front, Justice aims to extend specialized criminal courts to cases of organized crime, to minimize the risk of jury intimidation. It also proposes to extend the offence of ’association de malfaiteurs« to murder, and to create a new set of standards for prosecuting minors over the age of 16 involved in serious criminal activity.

Supporting victims and strengthening penalties

Didier Migaud stressed the importance of not forgetting the victims of organized crime. The Minister of Justice announced the creation of a special mission headed by the Déléguée interministérielle à l'aide aux victimes (DIAV) to assess the specific needs of victims in crime-affected regions.

In line with the principle of «taking from criminals and giving back to victims», Mr. Migaud stressed the importance of asset seizure and confiscation. In his view, criminal assets should be reallocated to support those affected by organized crime - a policy that saw a property in Marseille seized from a trafficker and used to provide housing for victims in 2023.

Finally, the Minister of Justice proposed measures to prevent crime in prisons, such as the introduction of detection systems to monitor high-risk inmates and the deployment of specialized containment zones to limit their influence.

Recent security enhancements at the Baumettes prison in Marseille, including anti-drone systems and mobile jamming devices, are examples of a targeted approach to limiting the influence of organized crime, even within prisons.

A common response... but similar to the last 50 years

Retailleau and Migaud will they do better than their predecessors ? Their political opponents doubt it, and history proves them right.

In an op-ed published on Huff, a number of Socialist politicians argue for a holistic approach, suggesting the creation of a national anti-drugs prosecutor's office similar to the anti-terrorism division, as well as greater support for the Judicial Police (PJ), which has proved effective in the fight against organized crime and terrorism.

They also propose strengthening the role of the Anti-Drug Office (Ofast), creating a unified national strategy, and reinforcing youth protection to prevent vulnerable minors from being exploited by criminal networks.

But they also call for a mature, nuanced approach to drug policy that recognizes different uses while promoting responsible consumption. With the legalization and decriminalization of cannabis, in particular, becoming increasingly widespread in Europe, France is at a pivotal point in tackling related problems with a balanced approach that integrates police, social services and health strategies, rather than relying solely on repressive measures.

And indeed, the health aspect of drug use is once again forgotten, as the Minister of Health is not involved in this anti-narcotics plan which, if it produces results, will have difficulty in fundamentally destabilizing a business worth 5 billion euros in France alone.