France’s Initiative to Build a Prison in the Amazon Rainforest:

An Evaluation in the Context of Security and Crime Prevention

France has announced its plan to invest approximately 400 million euros in the construction of a high-security prison in the Amazon Rainforest as part of its efforts to combat drug trafficking. At the core of this extraordinary project lie a series of incidents that occurred in April 2025, when prison facilities in cities such as Toulon, Marseille, Luynes, and Valence were targeted in arson attacks and shootings involving automatic weapons. These attacks are believed to be a reaction to the government's increasingly strict measures against drug cartels. Furthermore, the rise in crime rates following waves of illegal immigration appears to be another motivating factor behind the project.

According to a statement made by French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin in 2022, foreign nationals—who make up only 7% of the population—were held responsible for 17% of the crimes committed in the country. This figure is significantly higher in major urban centers; for instance, in Paris, 48% of crimes are attributed to foreigners, while in Lyon the rate stands at 25%. These statistics suggest that the prison project is part of a broader effort to strengthen internal security and preserve social order in France.

In addition to rising crime, overcrowding in French prisons presents a serious challenge. As of 2025, approximately 81,600 inmates are housed in facilities with a total capacity of just 62,000. This overpopulation has led to increased violence among prisoners and notable security breaches.

In summary, France’s motivations for implementing this prison project are considerable. Faced with interconnected problems such as escalating violence, overpopulated correctional facilities, drug trafficking, and illegal migration, the French government appears to be seeking long-term and radical solutions. The allocation of a 400-million-euro budget underscores the seriousness and scale of this initiative.

This project inevitably brings to mind the mega-prison initiative developed by El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele: the CECOT (Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo). Located approximately 70–75 kilometers from the city center in the Tecoluca region, this high-security facility is intended to isolate individuals convicted of serious crimes. El Salvador had long suffered from high rates of violence, rape, and kidnapping. The construction of CECOT represented a drastic measure in the fight against these issues. During operations held in January 2023, over 62,000 individuals were arrested and transferred to the facility. As a result of these measures, El Salvador’s murder rate dropped dramatically from 103 per 100,000 in 2015 to 1.15 per 100,000 in 2025—transforming the country into one of the safest in the Western Hemisphere. Today, violence on the streets has significantly declined, and public order has visibly improved.

Conclusion

Security is one of the essential lifelines of a nation. Just as it is impossible to breathe and survive in an oxygen-deprived environment, no society can sustain peace, order, or development without adequate security. France’s proposed prison project may be viewed as an attempt to reclaim the "lost oxygen" of its social structure. If implemented in accordance with human rights and international legal standards, this project could not only enhance internal security in France but also serve as a model for other nations.