France Plans High-Security Prison in Amazon to Combat Drug Trafficking

The French justice minister announced this measure in response to escalating violent incidents connected to organized crime, marking a significant step in the battle against drug trafficking.

France is set to construct a new high-security prison deep in the Amazon jungle of its overseas territory, French Guiana, to fight against the escalating drug trafficking crisis. The €400 million facility, slated to open as early as 2028, was announced by Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin during his recent visit to the region.

Darmanin emphasized that this prison will focus on detaining drug traffickers and radical Islamists, targeting organized crime throughout the entire drug supply chain. With the capacity to house up to 500 inmates, the facility will also feature a special wing dedicated to the most dangerous offenders, operated under a strict carceral regime aimed at incapacitating high-level drug traffickers.

The announcement comes in the wake of increased violence attributed to criminal organizations, which have recently attacked prisons and personnel across mainland France. Darmanin stated that by isolating the prison in a remote area, drug lords will find it much more challenging to maintain contact with their networks.

French Guiana, situated on South America's northeast coast, allows its residents to vote in French elections and grants them access to the French social welfare system. The minister highlighted that the prison’s location is strategic—serving as a barrier against communication between incarcerated criminals and their associates back in France.

The recent French government initiatives also include tough new legislation to combat organized crime, establishing a specific branch of prosecutors to handle such cases, expanded investigative powers, and special protections for informants. These efforts are in direct response to a series of violent incidents, which Darmanin has labeled "terrorist" actions against the prison system.

Moreover, Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, the chosen site for this new prison, is historically significant as the former port for the notorious Devil's Island penal colony, where convicts were sent from 1852 to 1954. The oppressive environment of the new facility aims not only to house criminals but to serve as a deterrent against the rampant drug trade, indicating a hardline approach by the French government.