France’s Justice Minister, Gérald Darmanin, has announced a crackdown on mafia networks operating in Corsica, marking a major shift in the French state policy.
Speaking to the Corsica National Assembly on February 27, Darmanin declared what he called a “revolution in state action” against organised crime on the island.
Darmanin’s acknowledgement of the reality of mafia influence in Corsica stunned local leaders.
Corse’s regional President Gilles Simeoni described the moment as “politically significant.”
“This goes beyond anything we could have imagined,” he said.
To dismantle the mafia’s grip on the island, the government is deploying new tools.
A specialised judicial unit will be established in Bastia, staffed with handpicked prosecutors and judges. This unprecedented structure will operate alongside the newly created National Anti-Organised Crime Prosecution Service (PNACO), which will bring together 60 magistrates when it launches in January 2026.
The Ajaccio and Bastia courts will also see reinforcements, with 50 additional judicial personnel, including 17 magistrates, set to strengthen the island’s legal firepower.
Meanwhile, a new territorial criminal law directive will make tackling drug trafficking and money laundering a priority on the island.
Although initially pleased with the shift, faced with this new measure, Corsica Regional President Simeoni remained cautious.
“‘The increase in organised crime and mafia aberrations throughout France, Europe, the world and Corsica requires and justifies adapting the legislative arsenal. We want this adaptation and reinforcement to be carried out with strict respect for individual freedoms and fundamental liberties,” he said.
The French Justice Minister was alongside Italian MEP Leoluca Orlando, known for his strong opposition to the Sicilian Mafia.
Orlando stressed the responsibility of the local political class in Corsica.
The announcement comes in the wake of the assassination of Chloé Aldrovandi, gunned down in a suspected mafia ambush on February 15 in Ponte-Leccia.
The killing was one of many in Corsica’s long history of gangland violence.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau also vowed quick and decisive action from the state.
In an interview with a Corsican newspaper on February 27, he stated: “The hand of the State will not tremble.”
He emphasised that the fight against organised crime is now a national cause, warning that Corsican mafia activity poses a threat not just to the island but to the entire country.
Ahead of his visit to Marseille — a French city struggling with significant drug issues — France’s interior minister Bruno Retailleau has laid out his action plan to combat drug trafficking. https://t.co/fQjxNtO8PQ
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) November 8, 2024
