Cannes mayor calls for anti-drug offensive during film festival

The mayor of Cannes David Lisnard asked the State to carry out a targeted anti-narcotics operation during the Cannes Film Festival from May 12 to 23, also targeting participants in the world cinema meeting.

“I am requesting the implementation of a specific and large-scale control action for the fight against narcotics during the period of the Film Festival, throughout the city, including in the Croisette sector and among festival-goers,” details the councilor in a letter addressed to the Grasse public prosecutor’s office and communicated to the press.

David Lisnard, who recently left LR and declared himself a candidate for the 2027 presidential election, wants this operation to be “conducted jointly by the national police and the municipal police”.

“During major events like the Festival, which sees an influx of 200,000 people, we often focus on security and logistics. I think it would also be appropriate to take advantage of police reinforcements during this period to show that the fight against drugs is being waged all year round, regardless of the neighborhood and the public concerned,” explained the mayor.

“It is not a question of stigmatizing festival-goers against whom I have no preconceptions, but on the contrary it would be strange to think that there are fewer drugs inside the Festival than outside,” adds David Lisnard.

“Festival or no festival, there are drug control operations all the time and this concerns all places and all territories,” recalled Laurent Hottiaux, prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes.

“The police forces and the public prosecutor’s office have always been very committed to the fight against drugs and are committed to protecting fellow citizens against this scourge by deploying all legal means made available by law,” responded Éric Camous, prosecutor of Grasse and recipient of the letter.