France Plans High-Security Prison for Drug Lords and Terrorists in Jungle

France is set to construct a large-scale prison designed specifically for the incarceration of drug traffickers and terrorists, situated in the dense tropical jungles of French Guiana. This ambitious project was announced by the French Minister of Justice, Gérald Darmanin, in a recent statement, as reported by local media.

The proposed high-security facility will be located in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, an area historically known for its notorious penal colony, which gained international fame through the dramatic depiction in the film 'Papillon.' From 1852 to 1953, this region was synonymous with the suffering of thousands of prisoners, and now it is poised to become a site of incarceration once again.

According to the plans revealed, the new prison will have a capacity for 500 inmates, including a specially fortified wing for approximately 60 high-profile drug lords and another section dedicated to Islamist terrorists. The estimated cost for this significant undertaking is around 400 million euros. The primary objective, as stated by Minister Darmanin, is to effectively incapacitate the most dangerous drug traffickers.

The location choice has stirred memories of the grim past associated with the former penal colonies in French Guiana, which were infamous for forced labor, isolation, and high mortality rates. Many inmates did not survive their sentences, succumbing to illness, violence, or despair.

The CGT union has expressed reservations about the project, arguing that it is inappropriate for Guiana to serve as a detention site for criminals and terrorists coming from mainland France. In contrast, Darmanin has emphasized the necessity of ensuring that citizens in overseas territories enjoy the same level of security as those in the mainland.

French Guiana is a hotbed for international cocaine trafficking, serving as a gateway for drugs from South America into Europe due to its status as part of France and the European Union. In urban areas like Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, local gangs often collaborate with international cartels, exacerbating the crime situation.

The authorities are currently facing challenges with overcrowded prisons, which are plagued by violence and loss of control. There has been an alarming increase in drug couriers, known as bodypackers, smuggling cocaine through the Cayenne-Félix Eboué Airport into Paris. Minister Darmanin has stated that the new jungle prison aims to eliminate the leaders of drug trafficking networks, ensuring they can no longer maintain contact with their criminal enterprises.