The government is introducing a new measure to try to dry up drug trafficking: repentance status for mothers who hide substances.
“I want us to create a status, on the model of repentants, for mothers in neighborhoods who are ‘forced’ to keep drugs in their homes
,” declared Sabrina Roubache, Secretary of State for the City and Citizenship, this Monday on France Inter.
In 2023, 36,429 accused of trafficking and resale without use, but also with use (consumption) and resale were arrested, according to the Ministry of the Interior.
Trafficking would have generated three billion euros, according to the French observatory of drugs and addictive tendencies (OFDT).
“We must shelter mothers, nursing mothers”
.
A
“nurse”
is responsible for keeping the drugs safe from law enforcement, but also from competitors.
In exchange for her silence, she usually receives financial compensation.
Traffickers regularly come to help themselves to meet customer demand.
The Secretary of State made a point of recalling that
“30% of families in priority neighborhoods [1,500 in France for 5.5 million inhabitants, Editor’s note] are single parents”
.
“In the majority of cases, they are forced to keep the drugs at home, and they don’t talk.
For what ?
Because they are afraid, and we must protect them.
Investigators trace the lines when people speak and to allow them to speak, we must protect them
.
Read also Faced with drug trafficking, European ports unite
The status of repentant in France, inspired by that of the United States or Italy, was created in 2004 by the Perben law.
It came into force in 2014 and offers a member of organized crime a new identity, police protection, financial assistance and reduced sentences in exchange for information.
Éric Dupont-Moretti, Minister of Justice, announced last April the reform of this status to
“improve its effectiveness”
, regretting that it was
“little used”
.