The French justice minister, Gérald Darmanin, announced the plans for this €400m facility during a recent visit to the territory, emphasizing its role in countering organized crime at every stage of the drug supply chain. Expected to house around 500 inmates, with a special section for the most dangerous offenders, the prison will be located in a remote part of the Amazon jungle and could begin operations as soon as 2028.
**France Plans High-Security Prison in Amazon Rainforest to Combat Drug Crime**
**France Plans High-Security Prison in Amazon Rainforest to Combat Drug Crime**
France is set to construct a high-security prison in French Guiana aimed at tackling drug trafficking and radicalism, as officials respond to escalating gang violence.
Darmanin's announcement follows increasing concerns over gang-related violence, which has seen prisons and their staff targeted throughout France. He specified that the new prison would employ a highly controlled regime to effectively neutralize prominent drug traffickers, making it a crucial element in dismantling drug smuggling networks connected to mainland France.
French Guiana occupies a unique position as a French territory in South America, granting its citizens voting rights and access to French social services, yet its geographical isolation is seen as a strength against drug lords who will be unable to communicate with their criminal circles.
Additionally, recent updates in legislation are part of a broader strategy to combat organized crime, which includes creating specialized prosecutor offices focused on these criminal activities and enhancing protections for informants.
Recent incidents of violence targeting prisons, described by Darmanin as "terrorist" acts from those opposing government actions, have prompted these defensive measures. The planned prison site, previously used for the notorious Devil's Island penal colony, will serve as a crucial new step in France's efforts to regain control amidst growing threats from drug-related violence and insecurity.
The announcement signals a decisive step in addressing the challenges faced by French authorities in regulating criminal activities and enhancing prison security, reflecting a multi-faceted approach to crime prevention in the region.
French Guiana occupies a unique position as a French territory in South America, granting its citizens voting rights and access to French social services, yet its geographical isolation is seen as a strength against drug lords who will be unable to communicate with their criminal circles.
Additionally, recent updates in legislation are part of a broader strategy to combat organized crime, which includes creating specialized prosecutor offices focused on these criminal activities and enhancing protections for informants.
Recent incidents of violence targeting prisons, described by Darmanin as "terrorist" acts from those opposing government actions, have prompted these defensive measures. The planned prison site, previously used for the notorious Devil's Island penal colony, will serve as a crucial new step in France's efforts to regain control amidst growing threats from drug-related violence and insecurity.
The announcement signals a decisive step in addressing the challenges faced by French authorities in regulating criminal activities and enhancing prison security, reflecting a multi-faceted approach to crime prevention in the region.
