2023-09-20 14:00:10
On August 21, the Pissevin district, on the outskirts of Nîmes, was the scene of two shootings, resulting in the death of a 10-year-old child and an 18-year-old man. Other large urban centers have also just experienced dramatic violence linked to trafficking. At the national level, more than 70 victims linked to drug trafficking have already been recorded by the Ministry of the Interior since the start of the year.
As the consumption and trade of illicit substances and their synthetic products increase, local elected officials are subject to market developments and face numerous challenges. There is not a month when the news is not punctuated with news stories against a backdrop of drug trafficking. This scourge is no longer specific to certain large cities.
Overseas territories become platforms for transporting illicit goods. Medium-sized towns and small towns also become the scene of trafficking and nuisance and even score-settling. Although trafficking already existed, its form and the degree of violence observed are new, particularly among minors.
A real system that serves a real economy
Big banditry, corruption and organized crime are now commonplace. The circulation and use of heavy weapons, turf wars and even money laundering demonstrate a real professionalization of crime. Traffickers come to set up shop and package their goods in towns known to be calm.
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It is easier to set up where there is no delinquency, no competition, fewer police forces and fewer surveillance systems. They rely on the use of social networks as well as organizations of small mobile dealers, with significant remuneration and possible turnover.
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The government’s announcements as well as the increase in budgets allocated to internal security and justice are going in the right direction. However, despite regular seizures, the supply of drugs in Europe has never been as significant as today. We’re no longer just talking about cannabis. Cocaine and heroin are imported en masse. It’s a real system that serves a real economy.
More than 3,000 deal points in urban areas
INSEE estimates the amount spent by the French in 2020 to stock up on cannabis, cocaine, heroin, crack and other narcotics at 4.2 billion euros, twice as much as in 2009. More than 3,000 deal points are identified particularly in urban spaces. For many months, we have been warning about the slowness of investigations, the lack of resources and the seriousness of the situation. Our fellow citizens, who are the victims, are asking questions and calling on us.
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