Drug trafficking challenges in France and Brazil

France and Brazil are facing significant challenges in addressing drug trafficking, with rising levels of cocaine seizures and persistent issues of corruption, violence, and organized crime. In France, cocaine seizures reached 53.5 tonnes in 2024 and 81 tonnes in 2025, indicating a growing problem that involves not only traffickers but also port workers and logistics personnel.

Assumptions behind harsher penalties

The push for stronger repression against drug trafficking is based on three key assumptions: a clear distinction between legal and illegal markets, a direct link between drug trafficking and violence, and the belief that harsher penalties will deter criminal activity. However, these assumptions are increasingly questioned by research showing that drug use spans all social classes and that the amount of drugs traded does not always correlate with the level of violence.

Brazil’s long-term drug war

Brazil has been waging a war against drug trafficking since the 1980s, resulting in a dramatic increase in its prison population—from under 100,000 in the late 1980s to nearly one million today. Despite the creation of high-security prisons, illegal drug networks like the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) have grown into powerful, transnational organizations that continue to operate effectively.

Resilience of criminal networks

Criminal systems in both Brazil and France remain resilient due to their decentralized nature and the profitability of drug trafficking. These networks provide employment across various levels, from transportation to money laundering, and are not controlled by a single organization. Arrests or disruptions of parts of the network do not necessarily lead to its collapse, as seen in the case of illegal gold mining in French Guiana.

Role of prisons and police relations

Prisons have become a critical space for the recruitment and organization of criminal groups, such as the PCC, and the expansion of incarceration has led to a large population of former prisoners, influencing social dynamics. The relationship between the police and the population is also crucial; when police are seen as part of the conflict rather than neutral enforcers, public cooperation diminishes.

Lessons from Brazil and France

The experiences of Brazil and France highlight that increased penalties and incarceration may have short-term effects but not long-term solutions. Positioning police as part of a "war" can alienate parts of the population, while the binary view of traffickers and victims ignores the complex economy of services involved. Addressing the root causes of drug demand and implementing public health and prevention policies are essential alongside criminal sanctions.