French authorities have reported a record seizure of 47 tons of cocaine over the first 11 months of 2024, a figure that has doubled compared to 2023.
The announcement was made on Monday by France’s Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau.
“Almost 47 tons of cocaine were seized by French anti-drug agencies in the first 11 months of 2024, which is twice as much as in 2023,” the minister stated. “This is a historic, record-breaking number,” he added while visiting Le Havre, where a significant cocaine seizure took place at the end of December.
Retayau pointed out that cocaine seizures had more than doubled in just one year, as only “23 tons” were seized throughout 2023. “Over the past ten years, we’ve seen a tenfold increase in cocaine seizures,” he noted.
However, experts observe that despite the large-scale drug seizures, they have little impact on the illegal drug trade, as these seizures represent only a small fraction of what is actually entering and circulating in France.
