French minister says UAE alliance can be model for tackling organised crime
The UAE’s relationship with France in combating organised crime is the perfect model for the international community to adopt, the French Justice Minister has said. Gerald Darmanin told The National that France and the UAE had developed complete co-operation against drug trafficking and the financial networks that prop up organised crime gangs, including money laundering through cryptocurrencies…
French Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin has stated that the UAE's partnership with France in combating organised crime can serve as a model for the international community. This collaboration has focused on tackling drug trafficking, financial networks, and money laundering, including through cryptocurrencies and property. In 2025, France has extradited 28 citizens from the UAE, while 33 apartments owned by suspected French drug traffickers were seized there last year.
The UAE is a signatory to 16 universal and regional multilateral agreements and maintains over 140 bilateral agreements with 53 countries, covering extradition, mutual legal assistance, asset freezing, and confiscation. Last November, a joint operation between France and the UAE resulted in the identification, tracing, and seizure of 82 properties in the UAE.
Darmanin emphasized that international criminal gangs are increasingly exploiting differences in judicial systems and called for stronger international judicial cooperation. The UAE partnership now focuses on capturing suspects and investigating the money behind criminal networks, including money laundering through cryptocurrencies and property.
The minister urged for the Abu Dhabi Declaration to translate these efforts into broader international action. As criminal networks operate across borders and use technology to conceal their activities, governments and law-enforcement agencies must adapt quickly to technological changes. One concern is the use of encrypted messaging services by criminal networks, which poses challenges for investigations.
Darmanin stressed that the fight against organised crime involves pursuing alleged offenders and seizing assets generated by their activities, warning that turning to crime comes at a heavy price.
Written by urgent.news from The National Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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