Massive Cocaine Seizure Near Lyon
French customs officials confiscated 826 kilograms of cocaine on Saturday at a rest area along a highway leading to Lyon, according to HotNews. The illicit cargo, valued at approximately 24 million euros, was hidden in a truck driven by a Polish national, who was promptly arrested.
With an estimated street price of 30,000 euros per kilogram, the seized shipment represents a significant blow to drug traffickers operating in France. The country has seen a dramatic rise in cocaine interceptions, with 53.5 tons seized in 2024, more than double the previous year's total.
Cocaine Consumption on the Rise
France is grappling with an escalating drug crisis. According to a 2025 report from the French Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction, around 1.1 million people used cocaine at least once in 2023—nearly double the 600,000 estimated in 2022.
This surge in usage has fueled concerns about the societal impact of drug abuse. French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has described the situation as a “white tsunami”, urging citizens to recognize the darker consequences of cocaine consumption.
Government Response and Warnings
Retailleau has strongly condemned the drug trade, warning that behind every dose lies violence and exploitation. He accused dealers of using teenagers as “cannon fodder” in turf wars and emphasized that the narcotics trade is responsible for civilian casualties.
Authorities continue to crack down on trafficking networks, but with cocaine consumption rising at an alarming rate, France faces an ongoing battle against organized crime and drug dependency.
