French customs authorities seized over 110 tonnes of drugs last year —a 74% increase from 2023—according to data obtained by AFP on Saturday.
In total, the police, gendarmerie, and navy confiscated over 53 tonnes of cocaine last year, which is more than double the 23 tonnes found in 2023. “In ten years, cocaine seizures have increased tenfold,” said French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau in January, when figures for the first eleven months were announced.
For comparison, Belgian customs at the port of Antwerp seized 44 tonnes of cocaine in 2024, a decrease from the record 116 tonnes found in 2023.
French customs also confiscated over 21 million counterfeit items, marking the fifth consecutive year of increased confiscations, along with 488 tonnes of tobacco. Among the 603,090 weapons, ammunition, and weapon parts seized were 881 firearms (up 13%), including nearly 150 war weapons. Additionally, €600 million was seized, a 265% increase from 2023.
