Nîmes is bereaved. Since Monday, a 10-year-old child and an 18-year-old young man have died amid drug trafficking. Traveling to the city in the south of France, Gérald Darmanin announced this Friday reinforcements “at least until the end of the year” and additional means of investigation.
“I dispatched security emergency workers, the CRS 8 [une unité de policiers spécialisés dans la gestion des violences urbaines] and since yesterday another CRS unit”, declared the Minister of the Interior, specifying that “this mobile force unit, these 60 CRS, will be on duty at least until the end of the year to pound the points of deal” as in Marseille.
Dedicated drug trafficking investigators
Beyond these police forces, the Minister also confirmed the arrival of 15 judicial police officers from Paris, to help their Nîmes colleagues in their investigations, as well as the creation of a GIR (Interministerial Research Group), based in Nîmes, “to specifically investigate the laundering of drug money”.
In addition, Gérald Darmanin declared himself open to the request of the mayor of Nîmes to reopen a police station in this district of Pissevin where these two homicides took place this week.
Police forces increased by 40% in five years
“I have instructed the prefect within a month to find the means to set up this municipal and national police station in this district”, specified the minister, affirming that the police force has increased by 40% for five years. in the Prefecture of Gard.
“With all these extremely important means, Nîmes will be in proportion to its inhabitants the city where there will be the most investigation services in France”, concluded the minister, adding that he would return in October to take stock of these various measures. .