Tatiana Geiselmann (special correspondent in Obernai) / Photo credit: CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU / AFP 10:36 a.m., February 21, 2024
This was one of the President of the Republic's key announcements during his press conference at the beginning of January: to strengthen "clearance" operations in neighborhoods plagued by drug trafficking. Police officers and gendarmes are therefore increasing checks on the ground, to deter dealers and buyers. Illustration in Obernai, in Alsace, where Europe 1 went.
REPORTING
Operation “clear space” in Alsace. The system, launched last November, and which Emmanuel Macron wishes to accelerate with around ten operations per week throughout the territory, aims to deter buyers and dealers in neighborhoods plagued by drug trafficking.
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In the Europe district, in Obernai, Europe 1 followed the police during their intervention. Accompanied by a dog specializing in the search for narcotics, the gendarmes inspect every corner of the apartment blocks to unearth possible stocks of drugs. "So I often do the bottom of cellar doors or garage doors, since the emanation comes from below the door thresholds. Then, everything that is electrical conduit, downpipes of gutters, which are suitable for hiding places narcotics or something else,” explains one of them.
“Show that the gendarme is everywhere”
Nothing to report for the moment, so outside, another part of the 70 or so mobilized gendarmes checks the identity of the residents. “We carry out checks on young people walking around in the middle of the area, to avoid giving them power and marking the territory,” describes a gendarme. Occupy the land to dissuade drug dealers from setting up. This is indeed one of the main goals of operation “place net” confirms General Jude Vinot, commander of the Bas-Rhin gendarmerie group.
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“The idea is to create insecurity among this minority of people who commit offenses. Show that the police are everywhere. We are outside, we are present on the public highway, we reassure the population,” explains the general. In two days, the gendarmes have already made around fifteen arrests, and they will maintain the pressure all week, also with checks on trains and in stations.