In France, nearly 157 tons of drugs seized in 2022, including 27 tons of cocaine

Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin (left), Public Accounts Minister Gabriel Attal (centre) and Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti during a press conference on the fight against narcotics, at the Ministry of the Interior, on March 1, 2023. CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT / AFP

French authorities seized 156.7 tons of drugs in 2022, announced on Wednesday 1^is March, the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin. “The fight against drug trafficking is more than ever the mother of all battles”hammered Mr. Darmanin during a joint press conference alongside the Minister of Justice, Eric Dupond-Moretti, and that of public accounts, Gabriel Attal.

In detail, 128 tonnes of cannabis were seized (+15% compared to the previous year), which represents a record at “no comparable level”, according to the Minister of the Interior. In 2022, 27 tonnes of cocaine (+5%) were seized, 55% of which came from the West Indies and Guyana. “We must prevent this white tsunami from reaching our shores”said Gabriel Attal.

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Seizure of “historic” cocaine in the port of Le Havre

The Minister of Public Accounts, responsible for customs, announced that a seizure of cocaine “historical” was carried out on February 19 by its services in the port of Le Havre, with 1.9 tonnes of powder intercepted in a few days.

He said the government would not show “neither angelism nor cowardice” to combat drug trafficking. Finally, 1.4 tonnes of heroin (+ 8%) and 273 kilos of synthetic drugs (+ 21%) were seized in France in 2022.

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The World with AFP