Politico: France’s justice minister highlights political hurdles to phase out cash in drug trafficking crackdown, affirming government reluctance to ban banknotes despite AML risks

In a recent clarification following earlier comments suggesting that eliminating cash could help disrupt narcotics-related money flows, Darmanin affirmed that the government is not prepared to pursue such a measure due to its potential impact on everyday life, particularly for small businesses and older citizens. While a 2023 senatorial report estimates the value of France’s illicit drug market at between €3.5 and €6 billion annually…