Latest news with #DevilsIsland
The Guardian
19-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Plans for prison wing in Devil's Island to hold drug traffickers and Islamic militants sparks outcry
French plans to build a maximum-security prison wing for drug traffickers and Islamic militants near a former penal colony in French Guiana have sparked an outcry among residents and local officials. The wing would form part of a $450m (£337m) prison announced in 2017 that is expected to be completed by 2028 and hold 500 inmates. The prison would be built in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, a town bordering Suriname that once received prisoners shipped by Napoleon III in the 1800s, some of whom were sent to the notorious Devil's Island off the coast of French Guiana. French justice minister Gérald Darmanin announced plans to build the high-security wing during an official visit to French Guiana on Saturday. He said in a Facebook post that 15 of the wing's 60 spaces would be reserved for Islamic militants. Darmanin was quoted by Le Journal du Dimanche, a French weekly newspaper, as saying that the prison also aims to keep suspected drug traffickers from having any contact with their criminal networks. 'We are seeing more and more drug trafficking networks,' he told reporters in French Guiana. 'We must react.' French media, quoting the justice ministry, reported that people from French Guiana and French Caribbean territories would be sent in priority to the new prison. The announcement angered many across French Guiana, an overseas French department located in South America. It was once an infamous colony known for holding French political prisoners, including army Capt Alfred Dreyfus, who was accused of being a spy. Dreyfus was incarcerated on Devil's Island, a penal colony that operated for a century and was featured in the bestselling French novel 'Papillon,' which later was made into two movies. Jean-Paul Fereira, acting president of French Guiana's territorial collective, an assembly of 51 lawmakers that oversees local government affairs, said they were taken aback by the announcement since the plan to build a high-security wing was never discussed with them ahead of time. 'It is therefore with astonishment and indignation that the elected members of the Collectivity discovered, together with the entire population of Guiana, the information detailed in Le Journal Du Dimanche,' he wrote in a statement posted on social media. Fereira said the move was disrespectful and insulting, noting that the agreement French Guiana signed in 2017 was for the construction of a new prison meant to alleviate overpopulation at the main prison. 'While all local elected officials have long been calling for strong measures to curb the rise of organised crime in our territory, Guiana is not meant to welcome criminals and radicalised people from (mainland France),' he wrote. Also decrying the plan was Jean-Victor Castor, a member of parliament in French Guiana. He said he wrote directly to France's prime minister to express his concerns, noting that the decision was taken without consulting local officials. 'It's an insult to our history, a political provocation and a colonial regression,' Castor wrote in a statement issued Sunday as he called on France to withdraw the project. A spokesperson for France's justice minister did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.
Washington Post
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
France's plan to build a maximum security prison wing in French Guiana angers local officials
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — France plans to build a maximum-security prison wing for drug traffickers and Islamic militants near a former penal colony in French Guiana , sparking an outcry among residents and local officials. The wing would form part of a $450 million prison announced in 2017 that is expected to be completed by 2028 and hold 500 inmates. The prison would be built in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, a town bordering Suriname that once received prisoners shipped by Napoleon III in the 1800s, some of whom were sent to the notorious Devil's Island off the coast of French Guiana.
Associated Press
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
France's plan to build a maximum security prison wing in French Guiana angers local officials
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — France plans to build a maximum-security prison wing for drug traffickers and Islamic militants near a former penal colony in French Guiana, sparking an outcry among residents and local officials. The wing would form part of a $450 million prison announced in 2017 that is expected to be completed by 2028 and hold 500 inmates. The prison would be built in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, a town bordering Suriname that once received prisoners shipped by Napoleon III in the 1800s, some of whom were sent to the notorious Devil's Island off the coast of French Guiana. French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin announced plans to build the high-security wing during an official visit to French Guiana on Saturday. He said in a Facebook post that 15 of the wing's 60 spaces would be reserved for Islamic militants. Darmanin was quoted by Le Journal du Dimanche, a French weekly newspaper, as saying that the prison also aims to keep suspected drug traffickers from having any contact with their criminal networks. 'We are seeing more and more drug trafficking networks,' he told reporters in French Guiana. 'We must react.' The announcement angered many across French Guiana, an overseas French department located in South America. It was once an infamous colony known for holding French political prisoners, including Army Capt. Alfred Dreyfus, who was accused of being a spy. Dreyfus was incarcerated on Devil's Island, a penal colony that operated for a century and was featured in the best-selling French novel 'Papillon,' which later was made into two movies. Jean-Paul Fereira, acting president of French Guiana's territorial collective, an assembly of 51 lawmakers that oversees local government affairs, said they were taken aback by the announcement since the plan to build a high-security wing was never discussed with them ahead of time. 'It is therefore with astonishment and indignation that the elected members of the Collectivity discovered, together with the entire population of Guiana, the information detailed in Le Journal Du Dimanche,' he wrote in a statement posted Sunday on social media. Fereira said the move was disrespectful and insulting, noting that the agreement French Guiana signed in 2017 was for the construction of a new prison meant to alleviate overpopulation at the main prison. 'While all local elected officials have long been calling for strong measures to curb the rise of organized crime in our territory, Guiana is not meant to welcome criminals and radicalized people from (mainland France),' he wrote. Also decrying the plan was Jean-Victor Castor, a member of Parliament in French Guiana. He said he wrote directly to France's prime minister to express his concerns, noting that the decision was taken without consulting local officials. 'It's an insult to our history, a political provocation and a colonial regression,' Castor wrote in a statement issued Sunday as he called on France to withdraw the project. A spokesperson for France's justice minister did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. ____ Follow AP's coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at
CNN
19-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
France planning Supermax-style prison near notorious Devil's Island penal colony site
France is planning to build a brand new high-security prison in the Amazon rainforest, near the site of the notorious Devil's Island penal colony that inspired the 1973 movie 'Papillon,' starring Steve McQueen. Speaking on Sunday during a visit to French Guiana, a French territory that borders Suriname and Brazil, Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said the facility would house drug kingpins and radical Islamists. The prison will be built in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, on French Guiana's border with Suriname, with space for 500 inmates, including 60 maximum-security prisoners. Speaking to journalists, Darmanin said the new jail would help to ease prison overcrowding in French Guiana, as well as responding to the growing threat of drug trafficking in the territory. French Guiana is a major transit point for South American cocaine on its way to markets in Europe, he said. Conflicts between organized criminal gangs mean the territory has a homicide rate of 18.4 per 100,000 people, compared with 1.2 per 100,000 in mainland France, according to CNN affiliate BFMTV. 'Citizens in overseas territories must be able to have the same level of security as those in mainland France,' Darmanin said. According to the minister, high-ranking criminals are able to use their illicit earnings to corrupt officials, and some are able to continue to run their operations from inside prison.. There are already 49 high-level drug traffickers in custody in French Guiana and other French overseas territories, Darmanin said, adding that these 'extremely dangerous' prisoners are not being kept in adequately secure conditions. The complex, which will also house a court, will cost a total 400 million euros ($451 million), Darmanin said in a post on Facebook on Sunday. For some, the announcement of the planned facility brought back chilling memories of the penal colony of Cayenne, commonly known as Devil's Island, which housed French prisoners until 1953. Devil's Island became infamous for its inhumane conditions, to the extent that it lent its name to a 1939 film starring Boris Karloff, as well as inspiring the novel 'Papillon,' which was subsequently made into two movies. CNN has contacted the French Ministry of Justice for comment.
CNN
19-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
France planning Supermax-style prison near notorious Devil's Island penal colony site
France is planning to build a brand new high-security prison in the Amazon rainforest, near the site of the notorious Devil's Island penal colony that inspired the 1973 movie 'Papillon,' starring Steve McQueen. Speaking on Sunday during a visit to French Guiana, a French territory that borders Suriname and Brazil, Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said the facility would house drug kingpins and radical Islamists. The prison will be built in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, on French Guiana's border with Suriname, with space for 500 inmates, including 60 maximum-security prisoners. Speaking to journalists, Darmanin said the new jail would help to ease prison overcrowding in French Guiana, as well as responding to the growing threat of drug trafficking in the territory. French Guiana is a major transit point for South American cocaine on its way to markets in Europe, he said. Conflicts between organized criminal gangs mean the territory has a homicide rate of 18.4 per 100,000 people, compared with 1.2 per 100,000 in mainland France, according to CNN affiliate BFMTV. 'Citizens in overseas territories must be able to have the same level of security as those in mainland France,' Darmanin said. According to the minister, high-ranking criminals are able to use their illicit earnings to corrupt officials, and some are able to continue to run their operations from inside prison.. There are already 49 high-level drug traffickers in custody in French Guiana and other French overseas territories, Darmanin said, adding that these 'extremely dangerous' prisoners are not being kept in adequately secure conditions. The complex, which will also house a court, will cost a total 400 million euros ($451 million), Darmanin said in a post on Facebook on Sunday. For some, the announcement of the planned facility brought back chilling memories of the penal colony of Cayenne, commonly known as Devil's Island, which housed French prisoners until 1953. Devil's Island became infamous for its inhumane conditions, to the extent that it lent its name to a 1939 film starring Boris Karloff, as well as inspiring the novel 'Papillon,' which was subsequently made into two movies. CNN has contacted the French Ministry of Justice for comment.
