Drug trafficking legislation passed by Parliament
Newly Adopted French Anti-Drug Trafficking Bill:
The highly debated anti-drug trafficking bill, with governmental priority, was unanimously accepted on April 29, 2025, by the Parliament. Initiated by the Senate, it gained 396 votes to 68 in the National Assembly, marking a rare success for the administration that lacks a majority.
The bill was approved unanimously in the Senate, despite ecologists' abstention, following a collaborative effort between parliamentarians from both chambers in a joint committee. With the exception of La France Insoumise (LFI) and a handful of ex-insoumis within the Ecologist and Social group, as well as four communists, all political parties supported the proposal.
Key Measures
The success of the bill, presented by two senators from opposing political parties - Étienne Blanc (LR) and Jérôme Durain (Socialist Party) - can be attributed to its non-partisan nature. It also acknowledges the government's strategy of "letting parliamentarians take the lead," a strategy often employed by Prime Minister François Bayrou due to his frequent difficulties in proposing sensitive bills.
The bill is intended to target the "high end of the spectrum" of organized crime by equipping France with a repressive arsenal that enables law enforcement and justice to fight drug traffickers effectively.
Specialized Prosecutor's Office
The flagship and consensual measure of the reform is the creation, in January 2026, of a national prosecutor's office for organized crime (Pnaco), competent in the most serious and complex cases, modeled on the national anti-terrorism prosecutor's office (PNAT). This specialized prosecutor's office, tasked with coordinating local jurisdictions, would be supported by a new organizational structure for investigation services grouped together within a future "joint operations center" based in Nanterre (Hauts-de-Seine).
In addition, Minister Gérald Darmanin secured the creation of high-security zones for the most dangerous traffickers, inspired by Italian anti-mafia laws, with the first example set to debut at the end of July in Vendin-le-Vieil (Pas-de-Calais).
Controversial Measures
A controversial measure allowing the creation of a "sealed file" or "separate record," to prevent the disclosure of certain information related to special investigation techniques used against traffickers and their lawyers, will come into effect with this law, along with various provisions strengthening the arsenal against money laundering and enhancing the capabilities of investigators. These measures are denounced by LFI deputies, who criticize the privileged repressive approach and argue for a prevention strategy that includes the legalization of cannabis.
Privacy Concerns
The bill also includes provisions facilitating enhanced surveillance powers, which have raised concerns regarding privacy and potential misuse beyond drug trafficking. However, proposals for encryption backdoors have been scrapped[2][3].
"There's no text with this kind of strength," Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau noted before senators on Monday, hailing a "true success," "rare in the current political situation." The Minister of Justice, Gérald Darmanin, also rejoiced, labeling the law a "major step forward."
[1] France 3 | The New Anti-Drug Trafficking Law: A Detailed Analysis[2] Le Monde | Anti-Encryption BillWithdrawal: Balance of Power regarding Data Protection[3] Numerama | France's Increased Surveillance Powers: What You Need to Know
- In the realm of policy-and-legislation and general news, the French government's newly adopted anti-drug trafficking bill garnered widespread support, with the exception of La France Insoumise (LFI) and a few other parliamentarians.
- The bill, a collaborative effort between parliamentarians from both chambers, aims to combat drug trafficking by equipping France with a repressive arsenal and creating a national prosecutor's office for organized crime.
- One controversial measure in the bill allows for the creation of a "sealed file" to prevent the disclosure of certain information, a move denounced by LFI deputies who advocate for a prevention strategy that includes legalizing cannabis.
- Bruno Retailleau, Minister of the Interior, tweeted about the bill, calling it a "true success" and a major step forward in the fight against drug trafficking, despite privacy concerns that have been raised regarding its surveillance powers.
