PARIS — “Every day, individuals face the consequences of the drugs you purchase.”
This straightforward slogan is part of a new initiative by the French government that seeks to highlight the connection between recreational drug use and the surge in gang-related violence and fatalities across the nation.
The campaign serves not just as an awareness tool but also intends to hold drug users accountable for their roles in perpetuating trafficking and violence. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, during the announcement of this initiative, emphasized the need to move away from viewing drug users solely as victims of addiction.
“I am not here to serve the interests of health,” Retailleau stated. He underscored the principle that users drive demand, thereby directly supporting traffickers and their operations.
In 2024, there have been 367 reported cases involving murder or attempted murder linked to drug violence, resulting in 341 individuals injured and 110 fatalities. Among the 176 people imprisoned for these offenses, over 25% were younger than 20, including 16 minors. Additionally, authorities have seized 47 tonnes of cocaine this year, more than double the amount confiscated in the previous year.
“Our security forces are battling relentlessly against this ongoing crisis,” Retailleau commented. “However, we face an overwhelming challenge; it’s akin to a wave of cocaine inundating our society.”
The recent campaign aligns with last year’s initiatives in Marseille, a city notorious for gang activities, which included bolstering police and judicial resources to combat organized crime. Plans are also underway to appoint a liaison magistrate in Colombia, which is one of the primary cocaine-producing nations alongside Peru and Bolivia.
French officials express serious concern regarding the trend of mafia networks recruiting minors, who often receive lighter penalties. In 2023, 19% of those apprehended for drug trafficking were minors, with some as young as 12 or 13 years old.
Retailleau highlighted alarming incidents, such as a five-year-old boy who survived being shot in the head during a shooting spree by a 16-year-old, and a 14-year-old in Marseille who, after being taken under the influence of traffickers, murdered a taxi driver. He recounted another tragic case of a teenager who was brutally stabbed numerous times and then burned alive in Marseille.
He stated, “At the end of every joint, at the conclusion of each cocaine line, there lies the barrel of a gun that bears the deadly results.” Retailleau urged that indulging in drugs equates to having blood on one’s hands.
The demand for cocaine continues to rise, with estimates revealing that 1.1 million people in France used the substance at least once in 2023. While cannabis remains the most widely consumed drug, with around 5 million users, there is also a noticeable uptick in the use of MDMA and ecstasy. Retailleau opposed the legalization of cannabis, asserting that it would not effectively address the underlying issues and citing the failures of similar measures in other countries to curb illegal trafficking.
Data from the Internal Security statistical service indicates that 62% of drug offenders were fined for their illicit activities in 2023. Retailleau affirmed the commitment to impose penalties on users, stating that fines had increased by 8% as of January.
