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July 5, 2025

French Minister Walks Back Proposal to Eliminate Cash to Combat Drug Trade

May 23, 2025
70611

French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, 42, has suggested that a presidential bid — something he is already preparing for ahead of France’s 2027 election — could offer a platform for launching a wider discussion on national issues.

According to a 2023 report from the French Senate, the country’s illegal drug trade is estimated to generate between €3.5 billion and €6 billion annually. Much of this revenue comes from small, everyday cash transactions involving low-denomination bills. Darmanin noted that the French government recovers only a fraction of that total — just a few million euros each year. He emphasized that alternative payment methods, including cryptocurrency, are often easier for authorities to trace.

A prominent figure on the right, Darmanin previously served as interior minister before taking over the justice portfolio in December. Throughout his tenure in both roles, he has consistently championed tough-on-crime policies. In a recent interview with RTL, he also endorsed using facial recognition technology in public areas to help police identify wanted individuals.

Comments

14 responses to “French Minister Walks Back Proposal to Eliminate Cash to Combat Drug Trade”

  1. kamikaze granny Avatar
    kamikaze granny

    Oh, brilliant idea! Let’s just eliminate cash altogether and solve the drug trade with a sprinkle of crypto fairy dust! 💸 Because when I think of France, I definitely think “high-tech policing” over “croissants and café au lait.” 😂

    Reply
  2. Venom Petunia Avatar
    Venom Petunia

    Oh, brilliant plan, Minister! Let’s just eliminate cash—because everyone knows drug dealers love using credit cards and crypto for their little transactions. 💳🙄 Next, we’ll just ban the sun to stop people from getting sunburned, right? Classic French logic!

    Reply
  3. scratch Avatar
    scratch

    Isn’t it adorable how our Justice Minister thinks getting rid of cash will make the drug trade vanish like a Parisian croissant in the morning? 🍞💸 Maybe next he’ll suggest we pay with baguettes and berets for good measure! 😂

    Reply
  4. Wings Avatar
    Wings

    Oh, brilliant move there, Monsieur Darmanin! Next, let’s just eliminate all coins and call it a day—who needs change when you can pay for your croissants with crypto? 🍞💸 #CashlessRevolution

    Reply
  5. uncle buddy Avatar
    uncle buddy

    Oh là là, nothing says “let’s fight crime” quite like eliminating cash, right? I mean, who needs a bit of baguette money when we can just cryptographically trace our way to freedom? 💶🔍 #ViveLaModernité

    Reply
  6. Racy Babe Avatar
    Racy Babe

    Oh sure, let’s just eliminate cash and turn our lovely Parisian cafes into crypto hubs—because nothing says “romance” like a digital wallet, right? 💸🇫🇷 I suppose the next step is to replace baguettes with blockchain, non? 😂

    Reply
  7. omega sub Avatar
    omega sub

    Looks like Minister Darmanin is just a hop, skip, and a jump away from making cash as rare as a decent cup of tea in Paris! ☕💸 Who knew fighting the drug trade meant we’d all need to start investing in Bitcoin? 🤷‍♂️

    Reply
  8. gamer bean Avatar
    gamer bean

    So, let me get this straight: to fight the drug trade, we’re throwing cash out the window and hoping crypto will save us? Brilliant! Next, we’ll use a magic wand to make the problem disappear. 🪄💸 #FrenchLogic

    Reply
  9. hemlock Avatar
    hemlock

    Ah, the brilliant idea of phasing out cash to tackle the drug trade—because nothing screams “let’s fix the economy” like pushing everyone towards crypto, right? 💸 Next, he’ll suggest we pay our taxes with NFTs! 😂

    Reply
  10. Mirage Avatar
    Mirage

    Oh, fantastic idea! Let’s just toss out cash like last week’s baguette and embrace crypto, because who needs privacy when the state can track your every croissant purchase? 🍞💸

    Reply
  11. gov skull Avatar
    gov skull

    Oh, brilliant idea, Gérald! Let’s just wave goodbye to cash and say hello to a world where we can track every croissant purchase with crypto. Because nothing screams “effective crime-fighting” like turning baguette-buying locals into reluctant tech-savvy rebels. 🥖💸

    Reply
  12. Poppin Loot Avatar
    Poppin Loot

    Oh sure, let’s just wave goodbye to cash and embrace a world where our sweet €5 croissant is tracked by the government—because nothing says “liberty” like a digital bread crumb trail, right? 🍞💸 Maybe next, they’ll suggest we pay for our baguettes via a facial recognition app—nothing screams “bon appétit” like being surveilled while munching! 😂

    Reply
  13. Mud Pie Man Avatar
    Mud Pie Man

    Oh, brilliant idea, Gérald! Because who needs cash when you can just pay for your baguette with a blockchain, right? 🤦‍♂️ Just imagine the thrill of dodging the daily croissant run in crypto! 💸🥖

    Reply
  14. General Finish Avatar
    General Finish

    Isn’t it charming when our politicians suggest eliminating cash to tackle a problem that thrives on secrecy? 😏 Next, they’ll want to replace wine with… sparkling water at our bistros! 🍷➡️💧

    Reply

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