2024-11-17 09:00:00
Jean-Francois Ricard, in Paris, March 20, 2024. JOEL SAGET/AFP
At the head of the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT) from 2019 to 2024, Jean-François Ricard defends the creation of a national organized crime prosecutor’s office with very different objectives and functioning, to respond to the specificities of drug trafficking. “We need decentralization (…)coordination. (…) And someone who decidessupports the magistrate.
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What do you think of the plan to fight drug trafficking, announced Friday November 8 by the Ministers of the Interior and Justice?
We can be pleased that the government is taking up the subject, especially since the previous government had left an analysis on the matter on its desk. The judicial system has fallen behind. It must be filled. The project remained to be constructed, based on the work carried out over several years at the chancellery, the senatorial report on drug trafficking and the consultation work carried out in my report. There is an undeniable urgency. But we remain unsatisfied with the precision of the content of the ads.
You are the author of a report on the creation of a national anti-organized crime prosecutor’s office. Do you find your measures in the ministers’ announcements?
I am the writer of the report, but it is a summary of all the interviews I conducted. It is a joint construction. I started with a blank sheet of paper. I didn’t know what my colleagues were going to tell me. There were a lot of reflections, and a lot of contributions from magistrates: some proposed a national jurisdiction, others a general prosecutor’s office… I had only one conviction: above all, do not reproduce what exists in terms of terrorism.
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Why is the model of the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office – which you led from its creation, in 2019, until spring 2024 – not, in your opinion, adaptable to the fight against drug trafficking?
This comes back to the question of the differences between organized crime and terrorism. Before the creation of the PNAT, some wanted a prosecutor’s office with dual jurisdiction, terrorism and organized crime. But it is a very bad idea: it does not correspond at all to the same operation, neither concerning offenders nor magistrates. Certainly, there are common techniques, common means, for example in terms of digital investigations. But these are two very different areas.
What are the main differences between the fight against terrorism and that against organized crime?
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How does Jean-François Ricard propose to improve the coordination between law enforcement and the judicial system in combatting drug trafficking?
**Interview with Jean-François Ricard on France’s New Approach to Combat Drug Trafficking**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Jean-François Ricard. As the head of the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office until recently, you have a wealth of experience in tackling serious crime. What is your assessment of the recent plan to combat drug trafficking announced by the Ministers of the Interior and Justice?
**Jean-François Ricard:** Thank you for having me. I believe it is a positive step that the government is prioritizing this issue, especially since the previous administration had left an important analysis on their desks without action. The judicial system has indeed fallen behind in addressing the complexities of drug trafficking. There is an urgent need to fill these gaps.
**Interviewer:** You’ve mentioned the urgency of the situation. Can you elaborate on what specific areas need to be addressed?
**Jean-François Ricard:** Certainly. The project needs to be comprehensive, drawing upon the work produced over several years at the chancellery, including the senatorial report on drug trafficking. While the government has acknowledged the issue, we are still waiting for more precise measures and strategies that reflect the severity of the crisis. It’s crucial to ensure that the upcoming policies are robust and effective.
**Interviewer:** In your report advocating for a national organized crime prosecutor’s office, what key measures were you hoping to see implemented, and do you see any of those reflected in the ministers’ announcements?
**Jean-François Ricard:** My report emphasized the need for decentralization and improved coordination in addressing organized crime, particularly in drug trafficking. Additionally, it highlighted the importance of having decisive leadership—someone in charge who can effectively guide magistrates and law enforcement. However, I currently find a lack of specificity in the recent announcements regarding how these ideas will be put into practice.
**Interviewer:** What do you think is the most critical challenge that France faces regarding drug trafficking?
**Jean-François Ricard:** I would say the most critical challenge is the complexity of drug networks which are highly organized and adaptive. We need a specialized approach that recognizes these specificities, which is why I stand by the proposal for a dedicated national prosecutor’s office focused on organized crime. Effective measures should not only deter drug trafficking but also dismantle these networks.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for sharing your insights, Jean-François Ricard. It’s clear that this is a pressing issue for France, and your experience will be invaluable in shaping the future of the country’s approach to organized crime.
**Jean-François Ricard:** Thank you for having me. It’s vital we work together to find effective solutions to combat this growing threat.