The French Ministry of the Interior has launched a campaign against drug use and trafficking, delivering a strong message directly targeting consumers. Presented by Minister Bruno Retailleau at the Hôtel de Beauvau on February 6, 2025, this initiative emphasizes the role of drug buyers in financing drug trafficking and its associated violence. The campaign highlights the harsh reality that behind every drug purchase, there are severe consequences, including deadly gang conflicts linked to the illicit drug trade.
This campaign comes as French authorities have intensified their fight against drugs in 2024, with more than 85,000 consumers fined and over one million drug screenings conducted on the roads. Drug use while driving remains a major issue, with approximately 700 deaths per year involving drivers under the influence. The minister underscored the importance of Fixed Penalty Notices (AFD), which aim to immediately sanction consumers and register their offenses in their criminal records. Since their introduction in 2020, over 652,000 such fines have been issued.
Beyond repressive measures, the campaign relies on powerful awareness efforts to expose the true impact of drug trafficking. According to the French Observatory of Drugs and Addictive Trends, the consumption of cocaine, cannabis, and synthetic drugs is on the rise, fueling an illegal market worth billions of euros. The minister stressed the need for a cultural shift, breaking the perception of drugs as recreational and revealing their direct connection to organized crime. He also firmly rejected any notion of legalization, citing the failures observed in Canada and California.
This campaign is part of an interministerial approach involving justice, law enforcement, and health authorities. Nicolas Prisse, president of the Interministerial Mission for Combating Drugs and Addictive Behaviors (MILDECA), highlighted the harmful effects of drugs on young people’s brains and the need to strengthen prevention, particularly in schools. A portion of the assets seized from criminal networks is now allocated to these prevention efforts, demonstrating the government’s commitment to tackling drug trafficking on all fronts.
Find more from Ministere de l’Intérieur (France, February 2025)
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsChaque jour, des personnes payent le prix de la drogue que vous achetez. pic.twitter.com/C1H0ADSe3L
— Bruno Retailleau (@BrunoRetailleau) February 6, 2025
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