"During the confinement, the (drug) trafficking was strongly affected and it is estimated that it decreased by 30 to 40%", affirmed the Minister of the Interior who however warned against anchoring " new practices ", at a press conference at the headquarters of the Office anti-narcotics (Ofast), in Nanterre.
Christophe Castaner made particular reference to the development of cannabis cultivation and the "uberization" of trafficking reinforced by social networks, namely orders and home deliveries of drugs. "Criminal ingenuity has not diminished".
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Exacerbated territory wars
According to Christophe Castaner, the 55 days of confinement which caused a contraction in the narcotics market could have sharpened the rivalries between traffickers, which could "awaken or exacerbate" certain territorial wars.
For example, in Rennes, the assault of a trafficker in April provoked three attempts at settling scores, which resulted in eight arrests by the police.
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However, as recent seizures of cannabis show, traffickers have continued to want to import large shipments of drugs. Thus, on the night of April 23 to 24, Customs got hold of 645 kg of cannabis in a truck, in the Lyon region.
Tuesday, still in the greater Lyon area, two "go-fast" vehicles were intercepted by the police who discovered 430 kg of cannabis and 10 kg of cocaine, testifying to a desire to quickly resume supplies.