French law enforcement confiscates contraband mobile devices in prisons - Authorities in France seize contraband mobile devices within prison facilities.
France Cracks Down on Smuggled Mini Phones Used for Criminal Activities in Prisons
French law enforcement agencies, in an operation dubbed "Prison Break," have seized hundreds of miniature mobile phones that have allegedly been used by convicted criminals to conduct illicit activities while incarcerated. The operation, which involved raids in 66 prisons nationwide on May 20, 2025, targeted mobile phones primarily manufactured in China and marketed as undetectable during prison entry checks.
During the searches, authorities confiscated thousands of the devices—colloquially known as "thumb phones" or "suppositories"—along with over 70,000 euros in cash and 500 phones meant for shipment. The investigation has led to the arrest of two suspects, with the vendor under investigation for illegal transactions.
Some of the miniature phones have purportedly been utilized to orchestrate crimes such as drug trafficking, fraud, arson, and contract killings from within prison walls. Investigators are currently analyzing the seized phones, with the assistance of the National Penitentiary Intelligence Service, to identify users and uncover valuable intelligence.
According to Eurojust, the miniature phones have been sold worldwide, with the majority of them traced back to a global supply chain based in China and distributed via online marketplaces. A notable French reseller, Oportik, has been identified as a key distributor until its website was seized and shut down by authorities.
The use of these devices in criminal activities has been a growing concern in French prisons, following high-profile incidents such as the escape of convicted drug trafficker Mohamed Amra and a series of coordinated attacks on prisons attributed to drug traffickers.
The discovery of this smuggling operation has prompted France’s anti-organized crime unit, JUNALCO, to share intelligence with Eurojust, the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation. Eurojust has since disseminated technical details of the devices to its network, alerting law enforcement agencies across Europe and beyond, with the aim of preventing the spread of these miniature phones within prison systems internationally.
The incident underscores the need for international cooperation and enhanced security measures to address the challenge posed by these miniature mobile phones in correctional facilities.
Related Details
- The seized phones are designed to evade detection thanks to their compact size—often no larger than a cigarette lighter—and minimal metal components.
- Inmates have been known to receive the phones through visitors, with some couriers concealing the devices inside body cavities to bypass security checks, a practice known as "suppository" in prison slang.
- The use of these devices has been linked to a range of serious crimes, including drug trafficking, money laundering, fraud, arson, and even attempted murder orchestrated from within prison walls.
- In the wake of the seizure of numerous miniature mobile phones used for criminal activities in French prisons, it is crucial for community policy to address and restrict the use of these concealed devices in correctional facilities, given their compact size and diminutive metal components designed to evade detection.
- As the proliferation of miniature phones in prisons continues to facilitate various criminal activities such as drug trafficking, money laundering, and even organized attacks, it is essential for employment policy to scrutinize and dismantle the global supply chain responsible for manufacturing and distributing these devices, particularly involving online marketplaces and resellers like Oportik, which have been identified as key distributors.
- As international cooperation becomes imperative to addressing the threat posed by miniature mobile phones in correctional facilities, it is important for technology and cybersecurity measures to monitor and capture illicit online transactions related to these gadgets, ensuring the gathering of general-news and crime-and-justice intelligence that can be shared among law enforcement agencies across continents to protect and maintain the integrity of prison systems worldwide.
