KEY INSIGHTS
Organized crime in France presents an increasing security challenge. Marseille is the focal point of concern due to high profile drug-driven violence, firearms proliferation, and significant youth recruitment. Record levels of cocaine seizures indicate sustained supply and high purity drugs signal increased competition among organized criminal groups, likely leading to increased violence over supply and territory. The persistent drug demand, access to illegal firearms, and the increasing number of minors involved in criminal groups raises concerns around the entrenchment of violent criminal activity.
KEY EVENTS
November 22, 2025: Approximately 6,000 people marched in Marseille against drug-related violence, following the alleged ordered murder of an activist’s brother.
April 15, 2025: Criminal gunmen targeted multiple prisons and prison-linked sites, with arson and automatic gunfire, during heightened counter-narcotics operations.
April 11, 2025: Europol executed arrests in France, Bosnia, and Spain, dismantling a firearms trafficking operation. The police seized 25 AK-pattern rifles, 126 hand grenades, 2 kg of 7.62x39mm ammunition, 1 machine gun, and a pistol.
February 6, 2025: France’s Interior Minister warned of a “Tsunami of cocaine,” amid multiple large seizures.
December 2024: In 2024, authorities recorded 367 cases of murder or attempted murder, with 341 people injured and 110 deaths linked to drug trafficking. Police seized 47 tonnes of cocaine, twice the amount seized in 2023.
ANALYSIS
Organized crime is increasingly becoming a threat in France. Targeted shootings, youth recruitment, and intimidation of state institutions are visible impacts of drug-driven organized crime growing in France. Marseille is the epicenter for visible organized crime in France, with an estimated 20,000 people involved in the drug trade in the city. The growing involvement of children in gang violence raises concerns of the long-term entrenchment of criminal structures within French society.
A key driver of violence in French organized crime has been the proliferation of firearms. In 2025, Europol announced the dismantling of a major firearms trafficking route supplying France. In April 2025, criminals conducted 15 coordinated assaults on prisons as French police increased anti-narcotic operations. Over five nights, criminals fired automatic weapons at multiple prisons and vehicles were torched.
OUTLOOK
We assess organized crime will continue to pose an acute, localized threat in France through 2026. Persistent drug consumption and sustained access to illicit firearms will drive this risk. The increasing recruitment of minors into organized crime will likely entrench rivalries and drive cycles of violence.
We recommend organizations and individuals with interests or operations in France consider the following options:
- Prior to travel, conducting comprehensive risk assessments, securing reliable intelligence on political, criminal, and infrastructure-related risks.
- Ensuring appropriate insurances are in place prior to any travel, which should include adequate kidnap ransom extortion coverage.
- Employing travel tracking tools and secure communication channels to monitor movements in real time.
- Avoiding displays of wealth and minimizing solo movements, particularly in high crime areas.
Authored by: Alexander Edwards
