French law enforcement is engaged in a major operation to locate and seize miniature Chinese-made phones, dubbed "suppositories" by inmates, which have been implicated in various crimes orchestrated from behind bars.
French Authorities Intensify Search for Mini Phones Used by Inmates
French Authorities Intensify Search for Mini Phones Used by Inmates
A nationwide crackdown targets tiny contraband phones facilitating criminal activities from prison cells.
Article text:
French law enforcement officials have initiated a comprehensive investigation targeting thousands of miniature contraband phones allegedly used by inmates to carry on criminal enterprises from within prison facilities. These phones, which are compact and measure roughly the size of a cigarette lighter, are primarily constructed from plastic, making them nearly undetectable by standard metal detectors.
Dubbed Operation Prison Break, this initiative was revealed in a statement from the Paris prosecutor's cyber crime division on Tuesday. As part of the operation, prison authorities have been authorized to conduct thorough searches in approximately 500 cells across 66 different detention centers.
Reports from Le Monde indicate that these small devices have been cleverly nicknamed "suppositories" by prisoners, highlighting their discreet nature which allows for easy concealment. Investigative findings have indicated that these phones have enabled inmates to orchestrate various criminal activities, including drug distribution, racketeering, arson, and even attempted murder, according to a recent statement from the prosecutor's office.
In response to this growing issue, French law enforcement has arrested three employees from the phone's supplier, a company known as Oportik, which has been halted from operations for allegedly distributing around 5,000 of these devices, the most inexpensive of which retails for a mere €20 (£16.84). Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin has committed to intensifying efforts against drug syndicates and other criminal organizations that manage to conduct their operations even while incarcerated.
Recent statistics show that around 40,000 mobile phones were confiscated in French prisons in 2024 alone. Various methods of smuggling, including throwing conventional devices over prison walls or using drones, have been documented, along with corrupt prison staff facilitating entry of these communications devices. While some prisons employ phone-jamming technologies, their effectiveness remains contested.
Furthermore, the French prosecutor's office has shared its methodologies for tracking the Oportik phones with Eurojust, the EU's judicial cooperation agency, to encourage similar enforcement actions across Europe, aiming to tighten prison security and prevent ongoing criminal activities.
French law enforcement officials have initiated a comprehensive investigation targeting thousands of miniature contraband phones allegedly used by inmates to carry on criminal enterprises from within prison facilities. These phones, which are compact and measure roughly the size of a cigarette lighter, are primarily constructed from plastic, making them nearly undetectable by standard metal detectors.
Dubbed Operation Prison Break, this initiative was revealed in a statement from the Paris prosecutor's cyber crime division on Tuesday. As part of the operation, prison authorities have been authorized to conduct thorough searches in approximately 500 cells across 66 different detention centers.
Reports from Le Monde indicate that these small devices have been cleverly nicknamed "suppositories" by prisoners, highlighting their discreet nature which allows for easy concealment. Investigative findings have indicated that these phones have enabled inmates to orchestrate various criminal activities, including drug distribution, racketeering, arson, and even attempted murder, according to a recent statement from the prosecutor's office.
In response to this growing issue, French law enforcement has arrested three employees from the phone's supplier, a company known as Oportik, which has been halted from operations for allegedly distributing around 5,000 of these devices, the most inexpensive of which retails for a mere €20 (£16.84). Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin has committed to intensifying efforts against drug syndicates and other criminal organizations that manage to conduct their operations even while incarcerated.
Recent statistics show that around 40,000 mobile phones were confiscated in French prisons in 2024 alone. Various methods of smuggling, including throwing conventional devices over prison walls or using drones, have been documented, along with corrupt prison staff facilitating entry of these communications devices. While some prisons employ phone-jamming technologies, their effectiveness remains contested.
Furthermore, the French prosecutor's office has shared its methodologies for tracking the Oportik phones with Eurojust, the EU's judicial cooperation agency, to encourage similar enforcement actions across Europe, aiming to tighten prison security and prevent ongoing criminal activities.
