Drug trafficking: the government wants protected status for “nurses”, these women responsible for hiding the goods

Jean-Baptiste Marty / Credits: BERTRAND GUAY / AFP 6:25 a.m., April 9, 2024

An audition which will be particularly followed. Minister of Justice Éric Dupond-Moretti will be heard on Tuesday as part of the commission of inquiry into the impact of drug trafficking in France. An important moment in the fight led by the government against drug dealers, in particular with “clean place” operations. 473 operations were carried out, 7,000 arrests took place and 3.6 tonnes of drugs were seized. Faced with this scourge, other avenues are being considered. A “repentant” status for “nursing mothers” is currently being studied.

Vulnerable women

They are vulnerable, often unemployed and living on the top floors of buildings. Nannies are prime targets for drug traffickers, according to Sabrina Agresti-Roubache, Secretary of State for Cities and Citizenship. “More than 30% of single-parent families, mostly led by women, women alone with their children,” she declared. Exploited nannies who hold vital information for the police. But to obtain them, their protection is necessary, which this new status would guarantee.

>> READ ALSO -

 Operation square net: "We'll see", in Roubaix, residents remain unmoved by the system

Give a new identity 

"First thing, we exfiltrate them, we allow them to file a complaint. Second thing, we protect them, we give them a new identity, a new apartment, a new job. Everything that allows them to be protected, far from the point where it happened, and above all allow them to provide the police and the justice system with the information necessary to arrest these criminal networks,” announced the Secretary of State. 

The status of repentant is directly inspired by Italy and the United States. In force since 2014 in France for former members of criminal networks, it should therefore be extended to these foster mothers in a bill presented by the end of the year.