Two High-Security Prisons to Isolate the Most Dangerous Drug Traffickers: Vendin-le-Vieil and Condé-sur-Sarthe Designated

Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin announced on Thursday, March 6, on France 2 that two high-security prisons have been selected to house France’s 200 most dangerous drug traffickers: Vendin-le-Vieil (Pas-de-Calais) and Condé-sur-Sarthe (Orne). This decision follows the minister’s intent to impose an extremely strict isolation regime to prevent any external communication and minimize escape risks.

A Clear Timeline for Implementation

The Vendin-le-Vieil prison will be the first to accommodate these high-risk inmates, with operations set to begin by July 31. Transfers will start between May and June, following technological upgrades to block illicit communications and intensive training for prison staff.

The Condé-sur-Sarthe facility will then open on October 15 to complete the system. These two prisons were chosen from four candidates, including the central prisons of Saint-Maur (Indre) and Arles (Bouches-du-Rhône), all personally inspected by the minister.

Total Isolation to Cut Ties with Organized Crime

The new prison regime includes strict measures: systematic full-body searches, parlors equipped with intercom systems, severely restricted phone access, and heightened surveillance. Inmates will be assigned to these facilities by ministerial decision for a renewable four-year term.

Gérald Darmanin justified this tough stance by emphasizing the threat these criminals pose even from behind bars: “We must prevent them from running their networks, ordering murders, or planning deadly escapes, as was the case with Mohamed Amra.”

Controversial but Firmly Assumed Measures

While this decision has been praised for its toughness, it has also sparked criticism. The International Prison Observatory denounces the measures as “violations of fundamental rights.” Yet, for the minister, the priority is to protect the public and send a strong message to drug traffickers: “I decided to hit hard. By October 15, 200 inmates will be completely isolated from the rest of society.”

This unprecedented prison policy marks a new phase in France’s fight against drug trafficking, aiming to neutralize the most dangerous kingpins and enhance public safety.