Emmanuel Macron announced, Tuesday January 16 during his press conference, that he wanted to “increase the pace of “clear square” operations, with ten operations of this type each week, in all categories of city. ” Objective ? “Restore order. »
This Monday, a major deployment of gendarmerie was carried out in the Bordeaux metropolitan area, at the Blanquefort station, which aimed in particular at the search for narcotics, through random checks of people getting off the tram. “Blanquefort is not the hub of narcotics,” recognizes Bordeaux public prosecutor Frédérique Porterie, “but they are everywhere, even in rural areas, with all the delinquency that accompanies it. »
“Almost 70 kg of cannabis resin” seized since the start of the year
A young man who got off the tram was quickly checked with around twenty grams of cannabis resin. It was first of all a strong smell which led the gendarmes to become interested in the individual, who opened a pack of cigarettes at their request, where there were two joints. The dog handler then intervened, and the animal quickly marked the waist, where there were pouches. Everything was carefully weighed in front of its holder, who was taken to the gendarmerie brigade.
Drug trafficking “generates underground delinquency and is on the rise in the department,” assures Frédérique Porterie. “Just since the start of this year 2024, we have already recorded more than 8 kg of cocaine seizures, and almost 70 kg of cannabis resin, within the jurisdiction of the Bordeaux court. »
Furthermore, warns the prosecutor, “numerous weapons have been seized in different investigative frameworks, such as handguns, bladed weapons, but also and increasingly weapons of war, since in two cases we found Kalashnikovs. This delinquency, from which this department had been more or less protected, is increasing, which justifies this type of operation. »
Actions at night in certain neighborhoods
The “Clean Place” operation, which began this Monday, will last all week. Some 260 gendarmes, including mobile gendarmes, will be mobilized “daily” assures General Loïc Baras, commander of the Gironde gendarmerie group. “They will carry out actions particularly at night in certain neighborhoods, or at certain toll gates, where there are a lot of things circulating as well. »
A Guépard squadron (60 gendarmes) from Satory, specialized in urban violence, a helicopter, dog teams from throughout the region, but also new technology investigators capable of “making” computers and mobile phones speak, come to support the territorial brigades and companies.
“The objective is to disrupt crime and delinquency as deeply as possible, with a particular focus on narcotics,” insists the prefect of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region Etienne Guyot. A first operation of this type, then called Tempête, had already been carried out the week of November 6, 2023, in Libourne and Bordeaux. “It led to 21 arrests which all led to presentations to the prosecution, sometimes with immediate appearances” underlines the public prosecutor. “We have also made significant referrals regarding drugs and weapons,” adds the prefect.
On the public side, the people 20 minutes The people interviewed did not say they were shocked by this surge of blue at the end of the afternoon, but rather surprised. “We wonder what’s going on” asks one. “Why Blanquefort? asks another. There are other “hotter” areas. » “No sector of the Bordeaux crown will be spared,” warned the authorities.