French Prefect Uses "Narcotrafficking Law" to Expel Drug Dealers from Social Housing

Alexandre Brugère, the prefect of Hauts-de-Seine, France, is employing a forceful strategy to reclaim social housing estates from drug dealers and troublemakers. Leveraging the expanded authority granted by the "Narcotrafficking Law" enacted in June 2025, Brugère is bypassing lengthy judicial processes to expedite the eviction of disruptive tenants.

This new legislation empowers the prefect to issue direct orders, similar to judicial rulings, banning individuals involved in drug dealing, from lookouts to street-level dealers, from congregating in known drug hotspots. This proactive approach aims to swiftly remove those who degrade the quality of life for residents in public housing.

Brugère, a former chief of staff to Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, has already seen success with this tough stance. A recent court ruling in Nanterre against the G. couple in Rueil-Malmaison exemplifies the law's impact. This case, along with 18 other successful expulsions out of 24 judicial authorizations in the department, demonstrates the prefect's commitment to tackling drug trafficking head-on.

The prefect's office is stepping in where social landlords have been slow to act, using the law to compel them to initiate eviction proceedings. This decisive action targets the persistent problem of drug dealing that plagues many HLM (social housing) neighborhoods, aiming to restore order and safety for the inhabitants.