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France Launches Operation in 66 Prisons to Seize Mini-Mobile Phones

On May 20, 2025, a nationwide crackdown was conducted across 66 French prisons, with searches carried out in nearly 500 cells to confiscate thousands of miniature mobile phones used for illicit activities.
This operation responded to escalating use of small plastic thumb-sized phones smuggled chiefly by visitors, enabling inmates to conduct criminal activities from prisons.
Officials estimate that around 5,000 miniature phones have bypassed prison security, allowing inmates to orchestrate illegal drug operations, financial crimes, targeted murders, and various fraudulent activities from behind bars.
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau stated the searches targeted phones designed to bypass security, adding, "It is against the law to give any kind of phone to a detainee."
The crackdown dismantled a major supply network, including blocking the French supplier Oportik's website, signaling intensified efforts to curb organized crime inside French prisons.

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Die Presse

Lean Right

Forbidden Mobile Phones: How Austria's Prisons Become Crime Scenes

In the justice institutions, the smuggling of mobile phones is flourishing. Thus, prisoners can continue their criminal activities behind bars. There is a suspicion that even murder orders have been awarded.

1 day ago·Vienna, Austria

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wz.de

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Center

France's Police Seized Mini-Phones Behind Bars

French suspects have confiscated mini-phones from prisons in China. Criminals ordered drug deals or frauds. Did the mobile phones also reach other countries?

2 days ago

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Le Monde

Lean Left

Operation Prison Break: 164 Mobile Phones, Including 88 Miniatures, Seized During Prison Searches

After the extensive operation launched on Tuesday in 66 prisons, investigations into "this distribution channel" in prison of miniature mobile phones are now continuing under the direction of an investigating judge.

2 days ago·Paris, France

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Le Figaro

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Prison Break Operation: Nearly 164 Phones Seized Including 88 Miniatures

Launched this Tuesday in 66 prisons in France, this vast operation allowed the seizure of 70,000 euros in cash and 14,000 euros in a bank account.

2 days ago·Paris, France

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TF1 INFO

Center

Operation "Prison Break": What We Know About Mini-Telephones Seized in Nearly 500 Cells in France

A large-scale seizure of portable mini-telephones was carried out this Tuesday in 66 French prisons. These devices were "sold as undetectable to the porticos of entry into the places of detention". The cheapest ones only allow to make calls and send messages. - Operation "Prison Break": what we know of mini-telephones seized in nearly 500 cells in France (Company topics).

4 days ago

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RTL Info

"Ten in One Cell": the Growing Number of Mini-Gsms in Prisons

Friday, May 23, 2025 - 20:00 "Ten in a single cell": the growing number of mini-gsms in prisons By RTL info with Benjamin Samyn and Samuel Lerate In Belgium and France, mini-mobile phones are increasing in prison settings. Hardly detectable devices, which complicate the fight against illegal communications and pose serious security challenges. Zen Reading This week, almost a hundred mini-telephones were seized in several French prisons. So small…

23 hours ago

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