Here is a new assessment. The “Place Net XXL” operation aimed at combating drug trafficking has resulted in 3,814 arrests since its launch in mid-March during a visit by Emmanuel Macron to Marseille, Interior Minister Gérald announced this Wednesday. Darmanin during the report of the Council of Ministers.
After the visit of the President of the Republic, “Place net XXL” then multiplied, in the Paris region, in the Lyon metropolitan area, in Dijon, in Clermont-Ferrand, in Lille, in Toulouse, in Nantes and in Strasbourg. More than 500 weapons and 170 vehicles were seized, while “more than 55,000 police and gendarmes were mobilized”.
According to the Minister of Justice, Éric Dupond-Moretti, 599 people were referred as part of these operations. This gave rise to “260 immediate appearances” and the opening of “83 judicial inquiries”. One hundred and ninety committal warrants were also issued, according to the Minister of Justice.
Operation “Net Cell”
At the same time, Éric Dupond-Moretti affirmed that eight “Net Cell” operations had been carried out “in three weeks” in establishments in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region and Corsica. “One hundred searches involving 200 detainees, including people affiliated with the DZ Mafia and Yoda
(the two rival clans who clash against a backdrop of drug trafficking, particularly in Marseille)
,” welcomed the Minister of Justice, after which certain cells were searched up to three times, notably leading to the seizure of 63 telephones.
“Four tonnes of drugs were seized” for all of the “Place Net” and “Place Net XXL” operations, added Gérald Darmanin. Twenty million euros in criminal assets were also seized. “We can’t stop there,” insisted Éric Dupond-Moretti. “Place Net XXL” and “Place Net” had enabled the arrest of 7,177 people in six months, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin detailed at the beginning of April.
At the end of March, 1,738 individuals, including "judicial targets", described as "kingpins" and "notorious traffickers" had been arrested solely as part of the "Place net XXL" operations, according to a previous report given at the end of March Gérald Darmanin. On the ground, specialized police officers, residents and magistrates interviewed are more circumspect about their effectiveness. These operations, which “mobilize, on an ad hoc basis, considerable police resources on public roads cannot be sufficient to stem drug trafficking,” the French Association of Investigating Magistrates ruled.
A “Place net Mayotte” operation was also launched this Tuesday in this overseas territory, mobilizing more than 400 police officers and gendarmes. This aims to combat insecurity and illegal immigration on the island. A similar operation will be launched by this Thursday in Guadeloupe, according to Gérald Darmanin who indicated that he was going there.