France planning Supermax-style prison near notorious Devils Island penal colony site

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France's Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin announced plans on Sunday to build a 400-million-euro ($451 million) high-security prison in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, French Guiana, scheduled to open in 2028. The project aims to combat organized crime in the region.

France 24

France's Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin announced plans on Sunday to build a 400-million-euro ($451 million) high-security prison in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, French Guiana, scheduled to open in 2028. The project aims to combat organized crime in the region.

The prison will accommodate 500 inmates and include a specialized wing with 60 cells for dangerous drug traffickers and 15 for convicted Islamist radicals. These prison will operate under what Darmanin described as an “extremely strict carceral regime.”

BBC News

South China Morning Post

The prison will accommodate 500 inmates and include a specialized wing with 60 cells for dangerous drug traffickers and 15 for convicted Islamist radicals. These prison will operate under what Darmanin described as an “extremely strict carceral regime.”

French Guiana, an overseas territory of France located on South America's northeastern coast bordering Brazil and Suriname, serves as a major transit hub for cocaine trafficking to Europe, often via drug mules who board commercial flights from Cayenne.

The St Kitts Nevis Observer

French Guiana, an overseas territory of France located on South America's northeastern coast bordering Brazil and Suriname, serves as a major transit hub for cocaine trafficking to Europe, often via drug mules who board commercial flights from Cayenne.

The facility’s remote jungle location is intended to sever connections between drug lords and their networks. By placing them “at the beginning of the drug trail — and out of reach,” Darmanin said, the prison aims to disrupt criminal operations at their source.

The facility’s remote jungle location is intended to sever connections between drug lords and their networks. By placing them “at the beginning of the drug trail — and out of reach,” Darmanin said, the prison aims to disrupt criminal operations at their source.

Darmanin also stated that the new prison aims to address overcrowding in French Guiana’s prisons and respond to the region’s growing crime, with a homicide rate of 18.4 per 100,000 people, compared to mainland France's 1.2. The facility will also house a court.

Agenzia Nova

Darmanin also stated that the new prison aims to address overcrowding in French Guiana’s prisons and respond to the region’s growing crime, with a homicide rate of 18.4 per 100,000 people, compared to mainland France's 1.2. The facility will also house a court.

The site's selection near Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni carries historical significance as it was formerly the arrival point for convicts at the notorious Devil's Island penal colony, which operated until 1953.

The Times

Historytools

The site's selection near Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni carries historical significance as it was formerly the arrival point for convicts at the notorious Devil's Island penal colony, which operated until 1953.

CNN #0

Metaculus #0

France's Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin announced plans on Sunday to construct a 400-million-euro ($451 million) high-security prison in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, French Guiana, scheduled to open in 2028 as part of the country's strategy to combat organized crime.

France 24 #

CNN #

France's Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin announced plans on Sunday to construct a 400-million-euro ($451 million) high-security prison in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, French Guiana, scheduled to open in 2028 as part of the country's strategy to combat organized crime.

The facility will have space for 500 inmates, with a specialized wing containing 60 cells for dangerous drug traffickers and 15 cells specifically designated for convicted Islamist radicals, operating under what Darmamin called an "extremely strict carceral regime."

BBC News #

South China Morning Post #

The facility will have space for 500 inmates, with a specialized wing containing 60 cells for dangerous drug traffickers and 15 cells specifically designated for convicted Islamist radicals, operating under what Darmamin called an "extremely strict carceral regime."

The St Kitts Nevis Observer #

The prison’s location in the jungles of French Guiana is meant to sever ties between drug lords and their networks. Darmanin called it a “lasting means of removing” criminal leaders by placing them “at the beginning of the drug trail — and out of reach.”

The prison’s location in the jungles of French Guiana is meant to sever ties between drug lords and their networks. Darmanin called it a “lasting means of removing” criminal leaders by placing them “at the beginning of the drug trail — and out of reach.”

Agenzia Nova #

Express.co.uk

Express.co.uk #

The new maximum-security prison in French Guiana represents a crucial step in dismantling organized crime networks by targeting them at their source. The facility's strategic location and strict regime will effectively cut off drug kingpins from their criminal enterprises, while its modern design ensures proper security measures that current facilities lack.

The new maximum-security prison in French Guiana represents a crucial step in dismantling organized crime networks by targeting them at their source. The facility's strategic location and strict regime will effectively cut off drug kingpins from their criminal enterprises, while its modern design ensures proper security measures that current facilities lack.

The Times #

France to open super-max jungle prison to combat drug trafficking

France Plans Isolated Super-Prison for Drug Lords and Terrorists in French Guiana.

The prison project revives troubling memories of colonial-era penal colonies and perpetuates harmful stereotypes about French Guiana. Local officials argue the territory needs schools and infrastructure rather than becoming a dumping ground for mainland France's most dangerous criminals, while human rights lawyers warn about potential violations of inmates' rights to family contact.

The prison project revives troubling memories of colonial-era penal colonies and perpetuates harmful stereotypes about French Guiana. Local officials argue the territory needs schools and infrastructure rather than becoming a dumping ground for mainland France's most dangerous criminals, while human rights lawyers warn about potential violations of inmates' rights to family contact.

Euractiv

Euractiv #

A New Prison Revives Memories Of The Penal Colony In French Guiana

France Plans Amazon Prison for Drug Lords and Terror Suspects

Crime & justice

France

South America

Politics

A remote supermax deep in the Amazon of French Guiana isn’t just symbolic — it’s smart. France is learning that real isolation, not just iron bars, is key to cutting off gang leaders who still command from behind bars. By targeting them at their source and placing them far from their networks, this prison offers a level of security and control that current facilities lack, ensuring these criminals can no longer exert influence from within the system.

A remote supermax deep in the Amazon of French Guiana isn’t just symbolic — it’s smart. France is learning that real isolation, not just iron bars, is key to cutting off gang leaders who still command from behind bars. By targeting them at their source and placing them far from their networks, this prison offers a level of security and control that current facilities lack, ensuring these criminals can no longer exert influence from within the system.

France to build prison in remote South American jungle for its most dangerous criminals

The new prison in French Guiana is a troubling step backward, reviving the dark legacy of colonial-era penal colonies. Rather than focusing on the region’s real needs — like schools, infrastructure, and social investment — France is once again treating French Guiana as a dumping ground for its most dangerous criminals. This project not only perpetuates harmful stereotypes but risks violating inmates' fundamental rights to family contact and proper legal defense.

The new prison in French Guiana is a troubling step backward, reviving the dark legacy of colonial-era penal colonies. Rather than focusing on the region’s real needs — like schools, infrastructure, and social investment — France is once again treating French Guiana as a dumping ground for its most dangerous criminals. This project not only perpetuates harmful stereotypes but risks violating inmates' fundamental rights to family contact and proper legal defense.

There's a 4.3% chance that Marine Le Pen will be elected President of France in 2027, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There's a 4.3% chance that Marine Le Pen will be elected President of France in 2027, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

France Plans Amazon Prison for Drug Lords and Terror Suspects

France Plans Amazon Prison for Drug Lords and Terror Suspects

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France Plans Amazon Prison for Drug Lords and Terror Suspects

France Plans Amazon Prison for Drug Lords and Terror Suspects

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