Paris drug dealers to cash in during Olympics after 'Uber' method launched to avoid police

The upcoming Paris Olympic Games are not just a stage for athletic prowess but also a prime opportunity for local drug dealers to cash in on the influx of fans.

As sports fans from around the globe descend on France to witness the summer's most anticipated sporting event , which kicks off this week, drug traffickers are gearing up to exploit the situation for their own profit.

In Marseille, where the sailing competitions will take place at the Roucas Blanc marina, dealers are planning to boost their usual daily earnings of nearly $540 (€500) during the Games, even alerting their clientele this week about price hikes to maximize profits from new customers.

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A dealer candidly admitted to BFM TV : "Let's not lie to ourselves, in Marseille, we sell tourists more expensively, they don't know much about it. That's also why the Olympic Games are expected in Marseille. For example, a $33 (€30), you can sell to them as a $54 (€50). We make a bit of money on them! ".

With the authorities clamping down on well-known drug hotspots ahead of the Olympics, traffickers have resorted to a rudimentary service they've nicknamed "Uber s***".

This scheme involves delivering drugs like cocaine or cannabis right to the customer's doorstep, mainly using scooters. Despite the crackdown, these dealers still plan to conduct street sales, expecting pedestrian traffic to surge during the event.

The bustling locations of Saint-Charles train station and Marseille's Old Port are among the anticipated hotspots for these dealings. This is not an unfamiliar scene for the police who have been obligated to accustom themselves to these evolving tactics over time.

"We also adapt from year to year to their new sales and marketing techniques," expressed Rudy Manna, spokesperson for the Alliance Police Nationale union, during his discussion with BFM. However, he did concede that the dealers' strategies have only been improving.

In a deeper observation, Manna went on to say: "This suggests one thing: they are becoming more professional, hiring people who are able to make attractive clips and flyers. It's a business plan system."