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New Episode of "Stories from the Collection"
The French Connection: Inside a Global Heroin Network
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Illegal heroin laboratories were first found near Marseilles, France, in 1937. Drug traffickers had access to plenty of ships, cargo, and hiding places in the busy port city. They were able to transport drugs around the world hidden on ships. This global drug network later became known as "The French Connection."
Morphine base came from opium grown in Turkish poppy fields. Farmers legally grew poppies for medicine. Some farmers illegally sold extra opium. Smugglers took this opium—processed into morphine base—to France. There, in small hidden labs, it was turned into heroin.
Heroin was smuggled into the United States using hidden spaces—such as false‑bottom suitcases, secret compartments in large American cars, and storage areas on commercial ships. Coordinated law enforcement efforts finally put an end to the French Connection.
Discover more stories and artifacts from this period in Stories from the Collection. Visit the DEA Museum to learn more about the history of drugs, drug misuse, and prevention efforts.
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