Narcotics seizures have been exceptional this year, particularly for cocaine. Customs seized 115 tonnes of narcotics in 2021, the Minister of Public Accounts Olivier Dussopt announced on Tuesday.
“Between 2020 and 2021, customs seizures increased by 30%, from 90 tons of narcotics to 115 tons of narcotics,” said the minister on RMC.
Cocaine seizures doubled
These levels are “historic”, the ministry told AFP, adding for example that for cocaine, “these are the largest seizures ever made on national territory”. They have thus doubled to more than 18.6 tonnes.
Customs’ attention was particularly focused on maritime freight and the search of containers, “the only way to transport large quantities” of cocaine, explained Corinne Cléostrate, director of the fight against fraud at the General Directorate of Customs. .
Cannabis, the eternal drug star
Cannabis remains the most seized drug by customs officers, with more than 74 tonnes intercepted, up 24% year-on-year, with a still marked increase in weed over resin, consumers increasingly favoring, for “fad”, marijuana.
The trend is the same for heroin (+30% to 466 kg) and ecstasy (+30% to more than a million doses), details the ministry. Customs have also tightened their controls on online commerce, like “ubershit”, which consumers prefer over local “dealers” for deliveries since the start of the Covid-19 health crisis.