[Image: A French police officer conducting a search near a known drug dealing location in a city center. - Credit: AFP/Getty Images]

Paris, October 26, 2024 - A recently released report from the French Anti-Drug Office (OFFAST) paints a grim picture of the escalating drug crisis gripping the nation. Dubbed internally as revealing a “counter-culture of violence,” the confidential document, obtained by Le Monde, warns that France has become one of the most affected countries in Europe, with drug availability now “without any white areas.”

Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, in the report’s foreword, starkly describes the situation as an “existential threat” to the country, evoking images of a “white tsunami” of cocaine and ecstasy overwhelming national security. The 60-page analysis details not only the traditional routes of drug trafficking - ocean routes – but highlights the explosive growth of air travel and land corridors through the Balkans and Central Asia contributing to the overwhelming supply.

The report's key finding is a dramatic increase in cocaine consumption, fueled by prolific South American cartels capable of meeting the demands of a growing user base. According to figures from the French Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (OFDT), 3.7 million adults have experimented with cocaine, while 1.1 million are regular users (consuming at least once a year) as of 2023. The sheer volume necessitates a steady and substantial supply, readily provided by increasingly powerful and influential criminal organizations.

The OFAST report details a disturbing trend: a normalization of violence linked to the drug trade. Territorial disputes between rival gangs are becoming more frequent and brutal, spreading fear and instability in urban areas. The report points to a worrying erosion of societal norms, with a younger generation increasingly desensitized to the dangers of drug use and the associated violence.

Beyond cocaine, the report also notes a rise in the trafficking of synthetic opioids, particularly fentanyl, posing a significant public health risk. The influx of these potent substances, often smuggled in small quantities and distributed through online platforms, is exacerbating the existing overdose crisis.

The OFAST recommendations include increased international cooperation to disrupt supply chains, enhanced border controls, and a significant investment in prevention and treatment programs. The report also stresses the need for a more comprehensive approach to tackling the underlying social and economic factors that contribute to drug use and trafficking.

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