A decree instructing public prosecutors to seize the mobile phones of individuals caught using them to purchase drugs will be sent out on Thursday, according to French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin. The decision follows a growing crackdown on illegal drug activity.
Along with the existing €200 ($227) fine, drug dealers and users who are caught by police may now face having their phones confiscated if evidence shows they used them to order drugs through calls, texts, or messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram.
Minister Darmanin explained that confiscating valuables such as money, cars, or phones can be a more effective deterrent than legal prosecution. The aim is to take swift action against drug use while applying pressure to users.
Police union representative Laurent Vitello emphasized the strategy’s psychological effect, saying, “If a young person has an €800 phone and it is taken away from him, he will think twice before using his phone to order drugs.”
The French authorities have been cracking down on drug sales, particularly in high-rise districts in large cities, where there has been a notable shift toward delivery-based operations. Instead of street-level sales, suppliers now offer drugs via messaging apps and deliver them by car or scooter, much like a food delivery service.
