French City Imposes Curfew for Minors Amid Drug Gang Fears

Authorities in Nîmes introduced a two-week nighttime curfew for under-16s in six districts after a series of gang-related shootings.

A police officer from the BST 14 Brigade, specialised in drug trafficking, stands next to a barricade at the entrance of Les Rosiers housing project in the northern districts of Marseille, southern France, on Dec. 1, 2023. Nicolas Tucat/AFP via Getty Images

The southern French city of Nîmes has imposed a night-time curfew for unaccompanied minors under 16 in six neighborhoods, after a string of drug-related shootings triggered fears of escalating gang violence.

The curfew, which began Monday at 9 p.m., will remain in place daily until 6 a.m. for at least two weeks and may be extended if conditions do not improve, city officials said.

The move reflects mounting concern over drug trafficking networks spreading across French cities, including Nîmes, Béziers, and Poitiers.

Several municipalities across France have already introduced similar curfews, citing the need to curb youth violence and prevent the exploitation of minors by drug gangs, according to French media reports.

In Béziers and Limoges, local officials have enforced night-time restrictions for young people, while two communes in the greater Paris region have followed suit.

Security Measures

Nîmes Mayor Jean-Paul Fournier said the city is facing an “untenable” situation after a series of shootings in the city’s neighborhoods.

Fournier said that for several days, the situation had deteriorated because of drug gangs, which were creating a climate of fear.

He added that, in the long term, authorities must be able to take strong action through sanctions and parental accountability, while also ensuring the protection of children.

Fournier also said that the decision to impose curfew was an innovative and commonsense measure that could be repeated if necessary.

The restrictions specifically apply to six districts, marked by an increase in violence and trafficking, including Pissevin, Valdegour, Mas de Mingue, Vistre-Arles Road, Clos d'Orville, and Chemin-Bas d’Avignon.

Nîmes authorities said police will intensify patrols in these areas.

Minors Targeted by Gangs

Nîmes Deputy Mayor for Security Richard Schieven said the curfew is intended to “protect minors who have nothing to do with trafficking, but also those, sometimes aged 12 or 13, who are used by drug traffickers.”

The latest outbreak of violence occurred on June 27, when the French media reported six people aged 15 to 20 injured in a shooting in the Pissevin-Valdegour district.

Witnesses reported bursts of automatic gunfire from individuals arriving and fleeing in vehicles, according to the Gard prosecutor’s office.

Authorities opened an investigation into attempted murder by an organized gang, possession of weapons, participation in a criminal conspiracy, and endangering life through dangerous means.

National Drug Crisis

The violence in Nîmes reflects a broader trend across France, where drug trafficking and gang rivalries have surged beyond traditional epicenters.

In January, François Molins, former Paris public prosecutor, said that drug trafficking may now pose a greater threat to France than terrorism.

“Drug trafficking is everywhere. You can find it as much in Marseille as in Cantal or Vendée; it’s absolutely everywhere. And it’s something we are struggling greatly to contain, which goes hand in hand with the explosion of drug consumption,” he said.

Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau echoed similar concerns in November 2024, warning that drug gang violence in small towns could lead to “narco-enclaves” emerging.

In April, French lawmakers approved a counter-narcotics law aimed at strengthening law enforcement powers and expanding judicial tools to combat the country’s growing drug trade.

The legislation establishes a national prosecutor’s office for organized crime, authorizes the isolation of high-risk drug kingpins in prisons to prevent them from running operations from behind bars, and grants authorities the power to shut down businesses involved in laundering drug money.