Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin announced on TF1 Tuesday evening that the first detainee transfers to the high-security Condé-sur-Sarthe prison will begin in the next few hours. Around 40 prisoners will be moved there by month's end to a unit focused on combating organized crime. This facility is France's second of its kind after Vendin-le-Vieil.
The high-security prison in Condé-sur-Sarthe, located in Orne, will enter service as France's second facility of its kind after Vendin-le-Vieil in Pas-de-Calais. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin specified during TF1's evening news that around 40 detainees would be transferred to the organized crime combat unit (QLCO) by month's end, for a total of about 100 prisoners. 'Five million euros' have been invested in this structure, he noted.
The purpose of these QLCOs is to fully isolate the most dangerous inmates from high-level organized crime under a strict regime inspired by Italy's anti-mafia efforts. According to the minister, about 500 detainees among France's 86,000 incarcerated are considered particularly dangerous. These units aim to prevent any outside communication, especially for managing illegal trafficking.
The first QLCO opened this summer in Vendin-le-Vieil, where jihadist Salah Abdeslam and drug trafficker Mohamed Amra are held. Costing 'four million euros,' the facility has seen no security breaches, such as drones, mobile phones, or USB drives, Darmanin praised.
Further openings are planned: Réau in Seine-et-Marne in June 2026, followed by Valence, Aix-en-Provence, and Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni in Guyana by the end of 2028.