The French interior minister recently announced a series of nationwide anti-drug crackdowns aimed at addressing the drug trade and crime in cities across the country. The move underscores the government's commitment to tackling these issues ahead of the upcoming European elections.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin revealed that police units had carried out raids and made multiple arrests in the northern city of Lille, as well as in Villeneuve-d’Ascq and Roubaix. Darmanin emphasized that authorities are intensifying their efforts, stating, 'We are going to multiply the operations that we have prepared for months to hit very hard.'
The operations are ongoing, with authorities conducting checks and searches of residential buildings as part of the crackdown. The first raid of the operation occurred last week in Marseille, marking the beginning of a broader initiative to combat drug trafficking and related criminal activities throughout France.
Some critics have suggested that the government's actions are also motivated by a desire to strengthen its position and counter the rise of far-right political movements in the lead-up to the European Parliament elections scheduled for June 6-9.
