The new police chief of Paris Laurent Nuñez ordered Tuesday, September 13 a vast police operation in a square in the northeast of the capital where crack users have been gathered for a year, noted an AFP journalist.
From 1:00 p.m., 450 police officers, including agents from the services to combat irregular immigration and the CRS, were deployed to carry out this operation.
“
Since my arrival, and particularly since August 4, I have wanted to accentuate the repressive aspect of this place
”, declared Laurent Nuñez at Square Forceval, where there were around 150 crack users who live in tents and makeshift shelters. .
In a press release released in the evening, the police headquarters gave an assessment of the operation.
It reported "
113 people arrested, including 70 foreigners in an irregular situation, the others for common law offenses such as offenses against the legislation on narcotics (six), carrying prohibited weapons (six), research (14), concealment of theft (three), for possession of false documents (three) or for sale on the sly (11)
".
Two people were sent to the psychiatric infirmary of the police headquarters, added the PP.
"Dramatic situation"
A year ago, by decision of the police headquarters, crack users, who have been concentrated in the north-east of Paris for around thirty years, were moved to this square in the 19th arrondissement, at the entrance to municipalities of Pantin and Aubervilliers (Seine-Saint-Denis).
“
The first thing is to occupy the public space.
I deploy here on average every day, between the Square and Place Stalingrad, but also Pantin and Aubervilliers, 200 police officers
, ”added Prefect Nuñez.
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When he took office in mid-July, the Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin had ordered him to settle "
within a year
" the "
dramatic situation
" of crack in Paris.
A new comprehensive crack control plan is to be presented in September.
“
This type of operation is intended to continue over time,
” added the police chief on Tuesday.
"
I can't let it be said that we are completely abandoning this district, it's completely false
," he said again.
Some residents stopped him at the exit of the square, denouncing the grouping of crack users in this neighborhood already undermined by poverty and drug trafficking.
The prefect promised to receive the inhabitants soon.
Since August 4 in this sector, 385 arrests have been made, according to the PP, giving rise to "
250 police custody having led in particular to 11 detentions for trafficking
".
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“
Nearly 8,000 people were checked and 28 anti-immigration operations were carried out, leading to 436 administrative situation checks and the issuance of 60 OQTFs (obligation to leave French territory)
”, added the police prefecture. .
Regarding crack, the PP said that since the beginning of the year, "
300 cases related to
" this drug "
have been processed
", "
2.3 kg of crack have been seized and more than 160,000 euros in assets criminals as well as 14 ''kitchens'' (places where crack cakes are made, editor's note) dismantled
”.
Since August 4, added the PP, "
11 ''modous'' (crack sellers, editor's note) have been placed in detention
".