PARIS, France — The French police made a significant breakthrough in the fight against drug trafficking in 2023, with over 36,000 arrests reported. This announcement was made by French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin during an interview on BFMTV.

According to the Burkina Information Agency, 2023 marked a ‘record year’ in the war against drugs, with a total of 36,329 drug traffickers apprehended across France. The minister credited the police, gendarmes, and other ministry services for their relentless efforts in combating drug-related crimes. He further noted that since his appointment as the Minister of the Interior three years ago, significant progress had been made, including the identification and disruption of 4,000 drug dealing points, with 1,000 of them being effectively dismantled.