French minister proposes limiting the use of cash as a tool to track crime financing.

French Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin proposed on Saturday the idea of limiting the use of cash as a tool to track crime financing. This came during a hearing session before a committee of inquiry in the French Senate, where Minister Darmanin suggested a significant reduction or even elimination of cash transactions as a means to combat drug trafficking and financial operations related to organized crime. Darmanin stated that "cash is a key means to operate organized crime, prostitution, and human trafficking," noting that the liquidity used annually in drug trafficking in France ranges between 4 to 6 billion euros, while only a few million of it is seized. Darmanin emphasized the need for a broad societal discussion on this idea, suggesting that the upcoming presidential election campaign might be the appropriate time for it.