French officials suspended after positive drug tests, PM says

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said several staff members in ministerial offices and senior officials have been suspended after testing positive for drug use, following a series of unannounced checks across government departments.

In an interview with Paris Match, cited by BFM TV, Lecornu said random screenings had been conducted in ministries in recent weeks.

He stressed that officials with access to classified information must not use narcotic substances, warning that such behaviour increases their vulnerability.

Lecornu also described drug trafficking as one of France’s most pressing domestic challenges, noting that around one million people in the country regularly use cocaine and that overdose cases are rising.

As part of a broader crackdown, the Interior Ministry plans to recruit an additional 700 police officers and raise the fine for drug use from 200 to 500 euros.

By Tamilla Hasanova