“Clearance” operations against drug trafficking: 1,270 arrests in 4 months

Europe 1 with AFP // Credits: Dimitar DILKOFF / AFP 7:33 p.m., February 10, 2024

The “clean cut” operations to dismantle drug trafficking led to more than 1,270 arrests and the seizure of two tonnes of drugs, the Minister of the Interior announced on Saturday in Besançon (Doubs). The 155 "clearance" operations carried out over the last four months on a national scale have led to "very impressive cases", declared Gérald Darmanin, citing "more than 1,270 arrests of traffickers" as well as the seizure of "two tonnes of drugs", "two million in new money" and "300 weapons, which suggests the militarization of drug trafficking". “We are going to intensify these 'clean up' operations,” insisted the minister.

Recalling Emmanuel Macron's commitments in mid-January, Gérald Darmanin declared that "there will be between 10 and 20" operations of this type per week, including "some of very large scale". “We are winning territorial victories, meticulously, step by step,” welcomed the Minister of the Interior. Citing the example of Besançon, he indicated the city had "gone from 35 to 5 deal points" and announced the creation of a new police station in Planoise, a district of republican reconquest (QRR) in the west of the city bisontine.

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“Weapons of war in perfect working order”

During a "clearance" operation organized Wednesday and Thursday in Planoise, nearly ten kilos of heroin were discovered as well as "weapons of war in perfect working order", underlined Saturday the public prosecutor, Etienne Coats. Among these weapons, an assault rifle, a submachine gun, and “even more worrying, a single-use rocket launcher, ready for use,” detailed the prosecutor. “Seeing drug traffickers who are capable of equipping themselves with such an arsenal should allow us to take stock of this rise in power of criminal networks and the rigor, the determination, with which we must combat these criminal networks " said Mr. Manteaux.

Planoise has been the scene for several years of a gang war for the control of drug trafficking. Several violent settlings of scores took place there last year: three men were killed there in February and March 2023, another was killed there in June and two young people were injured by Kalashnikov fire nearby at the same period.