The French police are mobilizing to track down thousands of small Chinese phones smuggled into prisons, which have been linked to various crimes. Authorities have launched "Operation Prison Break" to search cells, as the devices remain largely undetectable by standard security measures.
French Authorities Intensify Crackdown on Smuggled Miniature Phones in Prisons
French Authorities Intensify Crackdown on Smuggled Miniature Phones in Prisons
A nationwide operation is underway as French prosecutors target illicit Chinese-made phones enabling criminal activity from behind bars.
French police have initiated a significant crackdown on contraband miniature telephones manufactured in China, which have been enabling inmates to orchestrate criminal activities from inside prison walls. These phones, roughly the size of a cigarette lighter, are composed mostly of plastic and have earned the nickname “suppositories” among prisoners for their discreetness and ease of concealment.
Under the umbrella of Operation Prison Break, the cyber crime division of the Paris prosecutor's office has authorized searches in 500 cells across 66 detention centers. A report from Le Monde indicates that numerous instances of these phones being utilized for serious offenses—including drug trafficking, racketeering, arson, and attempted murder—have been documented by investigators.
The French-based company Oportik, identified as the primary supplier of these illicit devices, has been barred from conducting business and three employees have been apprehended. Estimates suggest that approximately 5,000 of these phones have been sold, with prices starting as low as €20 (£16.84).
Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin has vowed to strengthen measures against the drug gangs and criminal organizations that continue to operate from within prison. In 2024 alone, prison authorities confiscated about 40,000 mobile phones, with many conventional devices being either thrown over prison walls or delivered by drones. While phone-jamming technologies are employed in select facilities, their effectiveness has come under scrutiny.
Although these mini-phones are legally manufactured and sold in France, aiding a prisoner in acquiring one is a criminal offense. The French prosecutor's office has shared intelligence regarding the tracing of Oportik devices with Eurojust, the EU’s judicial cooperation agency, in an effort to facilitate similar actions in other member states and combat this emerging threat to prison security.
