Friday, January 30, 2026-French President Emmanuel Macron has called for a “massive” national plan to intensify the fight against drug trafficking and organised crime, with a special emphasis on strengthening controls at key entry points such as ports and airports.
Macron made the appeal during a government meeting at the Élysée Palace with the prime minister and senior ministers, saying that France needs a “change of scale” in its response to drug importation and distribution, and that a detailed plan should be ready within a month. The focus on ports and airports aims to disrupt major trafficking routes before illegal drugs enter the country’s wider distribution networks.
The president highlighted that operations in French Guiana have shown early success and argued they should be adapted to other strategic locations. Macron also announced plans for “swift operations” in mainland France in the coming days, while maintaining and reinforcing existing anti‑narcotics measures in France’s overseas territories, particularly in the French West Indies where drug‑related violence and trafficking challenges have increased the urgency of action.
He called for a total mobilisation of human and technical resources across ministries and stressed the need for regional cooperation with partners in North and South America to tackle international trafficking networks.
In addition to border security measures, Macron’s strategy includes expanded customs action, investments in advanced scanning technology to screen cargo and luggage, and targeted “operations coup de poing” in several airports as early as the coming days.
He also wants a public awareness campaign on the harms of drug consumption and stronger enforcement against trafficking networks. The call comes amid rising concern about drug‑related crime and violence in French cities and overseas regions, and Macron has stressed that efforts must be significantly scaled up to protect public safety and dismantle criminal organisations.
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