Top 10 Facts about the French Connection

Top 10 Facts about the French Connection

Not to be confused by the 1971 movie of the same name, the French Connection was a drug scheme that brought heroin to the United States and Canada from Turkey, with a stop in France on the way.

If you’re intrigued, keep reading for my top 10 facts about the French Connection.

1. The French Connection was established in the 1930s

Corsica, France by Tanos – WikiCommons

The French Connection drug scheme reigned from the 1930s until the 1970s. The first time authorities had a hunch that something was going on was in 1937 when several illegal heroin labs were found in Marseille in the South of France.

Marseille is just a short distance from the French island of Corsica, which was a hotspot for gangs and criminal activity.

2. The French Connection was run by criminals from Corsica, France

Paul Carbone in 1942 – WikiCommons

The illicit labs that were found in Marseille in the late 1930s were run by a criminal from Corsica named Paul Carbone. Although Carbone’s labs were found in 1937, the Corsica Gang had played a crucial role in the heroin drug trade for years. The drugs that were coming out of France were sent directly to the United States, and the scheme was dubbed as the “French Connection.” Large ships going from Marseille to New York City left the port of Marseille often so it was easy for the smugglers to get their product across the Atlantic.

3. The first major international seizure of heroin happened in 1947

A Seizure from The French Connection – WikiCommons

Because the port of Marseille was the perfect place to load up pounds of heroin to be smuggled to the United States, the Corsican gangs began sending larger and larger shipments. They were soon punished for their confidence, as in 1947 a Corsican sailor was caught in New York City with 7 pounds of heroin. At the time, the French Connection was still very underground, and so no important arrests were made.

4. The CIA was connected to the French Connection

Conspiracy theorist lovers will love this fun fact. Doesn’t the CIA always seem to show up in interesting places?

During World War II, the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) of the United States teamed up with the Corsican Gang to prevent French Communists from taking over Marseille, which was in the “free zone” of France during the German Occupation. Because the gang cooperated, they were fully protected by the CIA. Maybe that’s why no one was arrested in New York City in 1947…

5. The French Connection began in Turkey

The Corsican Gang uses the same flag as the flag and coat of arms of Corsica, to the chagrin of the state – WikiCommons

All of the opium being used to manufacture the heroin that was being smuggled by the French Connection came from Turkey. Historically opium had been harvested in Turkey for hundreds of years. Farmers were actually authorized to grow it if they sold it to legal drug companies. But, several farmers sold their extra crops to drug manufacturers, like the Corsican Gang.

6. Marseille, France was the French Connection’s headquarters

The Port of Marseille by Frères Séeberger – WikiCommons

Once the opium poppies were harvested in Turkey, it was shipped to Marseille to be refined into heroin. There were frequent boat voyages between Turkey and southern European countries, and so it was easy to smuggle to France. Once the product reached Marseille, it was packaged and hidden in more ships by the Corsican Gang and sent to New York City.

7. The French Connection first came under suspicion in 1960

A post about the dangers of drug use by the FBN – WikiCommons

By the 1960s, the French Connection network had grown. The Corsican Gang was now recruited crooked diplomats to help them smuggle more drugs. In 1960, the narcotics agency in the United States at the time, the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (FBN), was tipped off that the Guatemalan ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, Mauricio Rosal was smuggling opium from Lebanon to Marseille.

At the time, the FBN was seizing about 200 pounds of heroin per year. After Rosal was caught, they realized that the French Connection was funneling 200 pounds of heroin to the United States per week. By 1969, it’s estimated that the French Connection was supplying 80% of heroin in the US.

8. The French Connection was dismantled in the 1970s

Gangsters in the French Connection, including Paul Carbone – WikiCommons

A big turning point for the French Connection was in 1971 when Turkey completely banned growing opium. After the law was passed, American and French authorities began to come up with a plan to break up the French Connection, once and for all.

There were a series of arrests between 1972 and 1973. 6 of the most important heroin labs in Marseille were dismantled by the French and American authorities. The largest bust occurred in February of 1972 when the French authorities seized a boat that was carrying 915 pounds of heroin to Miami.

9. The French Connection was at the center of a police corruption scheme in New York City

In addition to the Corsican Gang in France, there were a lot of important players of the French Connection located in the United States. When the network was dismantled in the early 1970s, a police corruption scheme in the New York City Police Department was discovered in connection to the drug smuggling network. To make a long story short, the police officers involved let American gang members into their evidence lockers to take back the heroin that had been seized from the boat. Several of the people involved were arrested and sent to prison.

10. There have been several films made about the French Connection

I already mentioned the most famous movie made about the French Connection, called The French Connection, but it’s not the only one! There is mention of the French Connection in The Godfather, American Gangster, and the most recent, La French (The Connection in English) which stars Jean Dujardin.

If you’re wondering which one to watch first, the 1971 classic The French Connection is a great starting point!

Conclusion

I hope you’ve all enjoyed learning about one of the darker sides of French history. If you want to learn even more about France and you’re in Paris, I definitely suggest that you check out our walking tours in the French capital! Our local guides may even have a story or two of their own about the French Connection! Click here to learn more.