Drug trafficking: the French Antilles, a hub for cartels
Of the 54 tons of cocaine seized last year in France, more than half were seized in the West Indies, a veritable hub used by Colombian cartels to transport their goods to Europe.
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In broad daylight and in the middle of the street, gunshots and open-faced shooters. The bullets even hit a resident's balcony. The scene, filmed ten days ago, has become almost commonplace in a neighborhood of Fort-de-France. In Martinique, the use of firearms and drug trafficking have become a scourge. Law enforcement is trying to put an end to it by all means. That day, a France Télévisions crew is accompanying the BAC. An informant has just warned them of suspicious activity near a boat. Three men are immediately arrested, suspected of importing merchandise. A rare flagrant offense on the island.
Most firearms come from neighboring countries. To remain discreet, traffickers load small boats and then reach French territory. During a visit to the country this week, the Minister of the Interior even called for international mobilization. "Faced with arms and drug trafficking that knows no borders, there must be a response not only seen in the security continuum between communities and the State, but there must also be international mobilization between producing countries, transit countries, and consumer countries," declared Bruno Retailleau.
The minister announced the arrival of human and material reinforcements to try to stem this trafficking.
Francetvinfo
