French authorities are in a frenzy, launching a nationwide operation to track down thousands of miniature Chinese-made phones that have made their way into the hands of convicts within prison walls. These tiny devices, no larger than a cigarette lighter, have become the new tool of choice for inmates looking to continue their criminal activities while serving time.
Under the codename
“Operation Prison Break,”
spearheaded by the cybercrime division of the Paris prosecutor’s office, an extensive search is underway across 66 detention centers, targeting 500 cells where these contraband phones are suspected to be hidden. The situation has escalated to such an extent that prison officers have been given special authorization to conduct thorough searches in a bid to root out these illicit communication devices.
According to reports from Le Monde newspaper, these mini phones have earned the nickname
“suppositories”
among prisoners due to their convenient size and camouflage capabilities. A statement from the prosecutor’s office revealed alarming details about how these covert gadgets were used by inmates for various criminal activities such as drug trafficking, extortion, arson, and even attempted murder.
In response to this escalating crisis, French Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin has vowed to clamp down on organized crime syndicates and drug cartels operating from within prison walls. He highlighted concerns over the ability of incarcerated gang leaders to orchestrate crimes using these smuggled phones with impunity.
The supplier behind these illicit devices, identified as Oportik, has been swiftly put out of business following the arrests of three company employees. It is estimated that around 5,000 of these mini phones were sold by Oportik at prices as low as €20 (£16.84) each before authorities intervened.
Mobile phone smuggling into prisons is not a new phenomenon in France. In recent years alone, tens of thousands of conventional phones have been confiscated from prisoners who obtained them through means like aerial delivery over prison walls or corrupt staff members on the inside. Despite attempts at thwarting this practice through phone-jamming technology in some facilities, its effectiveness remains questionable.
Interestingly enough, similar miniature phones are mass-produced in China and are legally available for purchase in France; however, supplying such devices to prisoners is a criminal offense under French law. This revelation underscores the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies globally in combating high-tech methods employed by criminals even from within secure prison environments.
The French prosecutor’s office has shared intelligence on tracing the origins of Oportik phones with Eurojust – EU’s judicial cooperation agency – enabling other countries to take similar actions against this growing menace. With security concerns mounting within French prisons and pressure mounting on authorities for tighter controls and surveillance measures.
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