France to build supermax prison in jungle of South American territory
The facility in French Guiana, a territory north of Brazil, is intended for high-profile criminals such as drug kingpins and Islamist radicals
France is to build a high-security prison in the South American jungle for the most “dangerous” criminals, including drug kingpins, hardline Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin said in remarks published on Sunday.
The facility will open in 2028 in Saint Laurent du Maroni in French Guiana, a French overseas territory situated north of Brazil, Darmanin told the JDD weekly.
“I have decided to establish France’s third high-security prison in Guiana,” said Darmanin, who forged his tough-on-drugs reputation in his previous job as interior minister.
“Sixty places, an extremely strict prison regime and one goal – to remove the most dangerous profiles involved in drug trafficking,” he said.
Justice ministry officials added that 15 places would be reserved for convicted Islamist radicals.
“My strategy is simple – hit organised crime at all levels,” Darmanin told the weekly during a trip to Guiana.
