France, Aug. 31 -- France is to boost its military and police presence in its Caribbean overseas territory of Guadeloupe, in a bid to clamp down on escalating cocaine trafficking in the region that is driving unprecedented levels of violence. Local officials in both Guadeloupe and Martinique say they're finally being heard, but one expert in organised crime fears the measures are too little, too late.

A "record" 37.5 tonnes of cocaine were seized in France in the first six months of this year, compared to 47 tonnes in the whole of 2024 - an increase of 45 percent.

Thesefigures- revealed in a confidential note from late July from the national anti-drug trafficking agency (Ofast) - prompted Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau to describe t...