French customs officials have seized over 800 kilograms of cocaine from a truck at a highway rest area in southeastern France, marking one of the largest drug interceptions in recent months. The seizure, which took place on Saturday near the autoroute leading to Lyon, led to the arrest of the truck’s Polish driver, a source close to the investigation confirmed on Sunday.
The confiscated cocaine, weighing 826 kilograms, has an estimated wholesale value of approximately 24 million euros ($26 million). With the average price of a gram of cocaine sold at around 58 euros ($63), the street value of the seized shipment is significantly higher. This interception adds to the growing efforts by French authorities to curb drug trafficking, especially in transit routes used by organized crime networks.
France’s Increasing Cocaine Problem
The seizure comes at a time when cocaine use in France has reached alarming levels. According to a report released in January by the French Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (OFDT), around 1.1 million people in France admitted to using cocaine at least once in 2023. This marks a nearly twofold increase from the 600,000 users reported in 2022. As a result, France now ranks seventh in Europe for cocaine consumption, a concerning trend that underscores the growing demand for the drug.
French customs authorities have been stepping up their efforts to combat the influx of narcotics. In 2023 alone, a record 53.5 tonnes of cocaine were seized across the country—more than double the amount confiscated in the previous year. The surge in drug-related arrests and confiscations highlights the escalating challenge law enforcement faces in tackling international drug trafficking networks.
Strengthening Law Enforcement Measures
The latest bust is part of a broader crackdown on drug smuggling across France. Authorities have been working in close coordination with European counterparts to dismantle trafficking operations and intercept illicit shipments before they reach the streets. The increase in seizures demonstrates both the effectiveness of border control measures and the scale of the drug trade’s impact on the country.
With drug consumption on the rise, the French government continues to explore strategies to address both supply and demand, aiming to curb the growing influence of narcotics within its borders.
