France is planning a new prison in the jungles of French Guiana with the stated aim of isolating dangerous criminals and Islamists. The decision has raised hopes of a reduction in drug trafficking, but also concerns among the local population.
In Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, deep in the rainforest of French Guiana, France is now taking a radical step in the fight against organized crime.
A new prison with 500 places, 60 of which are reserved for high-security prisoners such as drug offenders and radical Islamists, is to be completed in 2028.
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin is promoting the project as a necessity to deal with criminal networks, particularly those involved in drug trafficking from South America to Europe.
France has been hit by a series of attacks on prisons in recent months, which Darmanin has described as “terrorist acts” in response to the government’s new legislation.
With a price tag of around €400 million, the facility aims to permanently isolate the most dangerous criminals, according to reports by the British state broadcaster BBC and French newspaper Le Figaro.
French Guiana, a French overseas department, serves as a strategic hub for drug trafficking, with smuggling routes from Brazil to Europe. The region’s high crime rate, with 20.6 murders per 100,000 inhabitants in 2023, underscores the need for decisive action.
The prison will also have a special section for 15 Islamist extremists and promises strict security procedures to prevent prisoners from maintaining contact with their criminal circles.
Bravo à Gérald Darmanin qui frappe un grand coup en rouvrant Cayenne, ou plutôt en construisant une nouvelle prison dans la jungle amazonienne ! Ils pourront faire les malins, les p’tits cons la bas, avec leur livraisons par drones ou catapultes, leurs 18 cellulaires et leurs… pic.twitter.com/dU2a9vTO84
— Alain Weber (@alainpaulweber) May 17, 2025
History haunts
The decision has also been met with criticism from the local population. Local leaders, such as Senator Marie-Laure Phinéra-Horth, are calling for investment in schools and roads instead. In an interview with Franceinfo, Jean-Luk Le West, vice president of the regional authority, expressed frustration that the news first reached them via the French media.
Concerns have also been raised that the prison will cement French Guiana’s reputation as a backwater for France’s problems, which could scare away tourists and investors. As historical background, it is worth mentioning that the French Guiana municipality of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni was once the gateway to France’s notorious penal colonies.
