PARIS (AP) – The French government has recently launched a new campaign aimed at raising awareness among drug users about the consequences of their actions, stating, “Every day, people pay the price for the drugs you buy.” This message comes amid a surge in cocaine seizures and violent incidents that are primarily linked to drug trafficking and gang violence across the nation.
The campaign's intent is not only to bring societal attention to the issue but also to hold users accountable. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau emphasized this during the campaign launch, stating, “I want to break with this logic of victimisation, which consists of presenting drug users exclusively as victims of an addiction.” Retailleau stressed that drug users must recognize their role in supporting drug traffickers, aiming to instill a sense of guilt among them.
Recent statistics paint a grim picture of the drug-related violence in France. The year 2024 saw authorities recording 367 cases of murder or attempted murder linked to drug trafficking, resulting in 341 injuries and 110 fatalities. Among those imprisoned for these crimes, over 25% are under the age of 20, and some are as young as 16. Moreover, French authorities reported seizing a staggering 47 tonnes of cocaine in 2024, more than double the total from the previous year, indicating a soaring demand for the drug.
Minister Retailleau described the situation as a “flood” of cocaine, referring to it as a “white tsunami.” In response, the French government has announced plans to bolster police and judicial resources in combating organized crime, particularly in Marseille, a city notorious for gang violence. As part of this strategy, the government is also appointing a liaison magistrate in Colombia, one of the principal cocaine-producing countries, to enhance international cooperation in combating drug trafficking.
A troubling aspect of the crisis is the rising recruitment of minors by drug trafficking networks, which exploit their youth to evade harsher penalties. Reports indicate that in 2023, 19% of drug trafficking suspects were minors, with some as young as 12 or 13. Retailleau highlighted the alarming case of a five-year-old boy who survived multiple gunshot wounds from a shooting incident involving a 16-year-old, alongside other harrowing stories of violence involving teenagers.
“At the end of the joint, at the end of the coke line, there’s the barrel of the gun that kills,” Retailleau stated, asserting that drug users indirectly contribute to the violence associated with the drug trade. He added that 1.1 million individuals in France reportedly used cocaine at least once in 2023, while cannabis remains the most widely used drug, with around 5 million users. The use of MDMA and ecstasy has also been increasing within the country.
During the launch, Retailleau dismissed the notion of legalizing cannabis, claiming it would not resolve the underlying issues and arguing that experiences from other countries show little impact on illegal drug trafficking. In terms of enforcement, statistics from the Internal Security Service indicate that 62% of drug offenders caught using drugs received fines in 2023. The Interior Minister promised continued enforcement actions, noting an 8% rise in fines in January alone.
The French government’s tough stance on drug use reflects a broader strategy to combat the increasing violence and destabilization linked to the cocaine trade, underlining the belief that addressing user behavior is integral to mitigating the problem.
