France is inaugurating a high-security prison in Condé-sur-Sarthe to incarcerate the most dangerous criminals, marking a pivotal step in the government's crackdown on organized crime.

This follows a pattern of previously opened high-security units, such as the one in Vendin-le-Veil that houses inmates including jihadist Salah Abdeslam and narcotics trafficker Mohamed Amra.

The high-security units, known as QLCO, are designed to fully isolate inmates to block external communication and trafficking, adopting a regime inspired by Italy's anti-mafia approaches.

Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced in mid-October the plan to add four more centers in Valence, Aix-en-Provence, Réau, and Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, aiming to relocate about 500 of the 700 most dangerous criminals within a few months.

Transfers of inmates are expected to commence in the coming days, making Condé-sur-Sarthe the second operational facility after Vendin-le-Veil.

Darmanin says restoring order in prisons is a top priority, warning that too many crimes are planned from inside prisons and calling the current situation unacceptable.