France is set to establish a new high-security prison in French Guiana, an overseas department deep in the Amazon jungle, targeting drug traffickers and radical Islamists. The Justice Minister, Gérald Darmanin, unveiled plans for the €400m facility, aimed at combating organized crime in the drug supply chain.

The prison, scheduled for potential opening in 2028, will accommodate up to 500 individuals, with a specialized section for the most dangerous offenders. Darmanin emphasized that the strict carceral regime would incapacitate the most perilous criminals, disrupting drug networks in mainland France.

French Guiana, located in South America, is a region of France where residents enjoy the benefits of French citizenship. The isolated location of the new prison in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni aims to sever ties between criminals and their networks, hindering communication and control over drug trafficking.

French authorities have grappled with contraband mobile phones infiltrating the prison system, prompting legislative measures to combat criminal gang activities. The proposed laws include the establishment of a dedicated unit to tackle organized crime, enhanced investigative powers, and stringent regulations for high-security prisons.
In response to recent violent incidents targeting prisons in France, the government labeled these attacks as “terrorist” acts, leading to reinforced security measures and the construction of new facilities like the one in French Guiana. Criminal gangs have orchestrated assaults, posing as advocates for prisoners’ rights.
The strategic location of the planned prison in French Guiana, a historically significant area due to its past as a penal colony, will intercept drug trafficking routes, particularly from neighboring countries like Brazil and Suriname. Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, once the gateway to the notorious Devil’s Island, holds a rich history of convicts sent from mainland France.

The legacy of the Devil’s Island penal colony inspired the novel “Papillon” by Henri Charrière, later adapted into a Hollywood film. The new high-security prison will serve as a modern-day intervention in the fight against drug-related crimes, echoing the historical significance of French Guiana as a place of incarceration and isolation.
As France confronts escalating challenges within its prison system, the establishment of this state-of-the-art facility in the heart of the Amazon jungle signifies a proactive step towards dismantling criminal networks and ensuring public safety. The move reflects a strategic response to evolving criminal tactics and the need for enhanced security measures in detaining high-profile offenders.
With the construction of this new prison, French authorities aim to disrupt the drug trade, address security threats posed by criminal organizations, and fortify the justice system’s capacity to handle high-risk offenders effectively. The development underscores France’s commitment to combatting organized crime and safeguarding communities from the perils of drug trafficking and extremism.
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