France Plans High-Security Prison in Amazon to Combat Crime

Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin announces a €400 million high-security prison in French Guiana, targeting drug traffickers and radical extremists amid rising violence linked to criminal activities.

France's Minister of Justice has unveiled plans for a high-security prison in the Amazon jungle of French Guiana, designed to combat drug trafficking and organized crime. During a recent visit, Gérald Darmanin confirmed that this €400 million facility will serve as a containment unit for up to 500 inmates, including a specialized wing for the most dangerous offenders.

Set to open as early as 2028 in the isolated region of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, the prison is a response to escalating violence involving criminal gangs that has threatened the safety of prisons and staff across France. The facility aims to incapacitate key figures in the drug trade and reduce their communication with criminal networks, as its remote location will hinder contact with the outside world.

Previously plagued by infiltration of mobile phones into jails, French authorities are committed to suppressing organized crime through enhanced measures, including the establishment of a specialized prosecutors' office and new high-security detention facilities. The recent violent incidents, referred to by Darmanin as "terrorist" actions, have included arson and gunfire directed at prisons, supposedly in defense of inmates' rights.

The decision to build the prison arises from its strategic position along trafficking routes from Brazil and Suriname. Interestingly, the site is near the historical location of Devil's Island, a notorious penal colony that held thousands of convicts from the 19th to the mid-20th century. The initiative signifies a multifaceted approach by the French government to fortify its judicial system against the relentless tide of drug-related crime.