Emmanuel Macron paid tribute this Friday to the GIGN gendarme who was killed last Saturday in an operation against illegal gold panning in Guyana.
“A Soldier of the Law”. The President of the Republic, present at the GIGN base in Versailles-Satory, paid tribute this Friday to Chief Sergeant Arnaud Blanc, who died on duty on March 25 while fighting illegal gold panning in Guyana.
“The one we called ‘Blanca’ had the soul of a French soldier, smiling and free (..) a smile as a choice, a standard, a rejection of complaints, a smile as a legacy,” Emmanuel Macron explained in before coffin of the deceased.
This “sniper, armored vehicle driver, qualified first responder, expert in canoes” has pledged “to protect everyone as a bulwark of the law, as a soldier of the law to the end”, added the head of state, accompanied by interior ministers Gérald Darmanin and the army ministers Sebastien Lecornu.
The President of the Republic then bowed extensively before the coffin of the soldier posthumously promoted to Knight of the Legion of Honor and Major, then spoke to his family and comrades.
In addition to paying tribute to Chief Sergeant Arnaud Blanc, the President wanted to recount the anti-gold panning operation that killed him.
“However, the mission of March 22, 2023 was like all the others, with risks and difficulties,” recalls Emmanuel Macron, who goes on to “pursue its goal of dismantling one of those illegal gold panning camps where we not only trade gold, but drugs, Drugs, guns and even people.”
After two days of marching, “they set up their last camp a kilometer from the target village,” the head of state continued, surrounded by Arnaud Blanc’s brothers-in-arms, his face masked, as is customary for elite units, to protect their anonymity.
“They planned to get up at 1 a.m. and walk the last kilometer silently with night vision binoculars so that the element of surprise was total,” he said. At dawn they reach the houses, Arnaud Blanc at the head.
“Suddenly the detonations explode, two undercover miners have just opened fire”. “Arnaud Blanc retaliates, down to the last bullet in his magazine and in the exchange of fire he is hit twice and collapses.”
His comrades will try in vain to help him. “It’s already too late. It’s 5:20 a.m.,” reports Emmanuel Macron again.
The Chief Sergeant, Arnaud Blanc, was 35 years old, a Pacsé and father of two.
Regular field work
In Guyana, the armed forces and gendarmerie services carry out regular operations against illegal gold panning. This activity consists of prospecting for gold in the rivers.
Mercury use is a source of pollution and deforestation. It is also responsible for many acts of violence in the country. There are declared farms that are subject to rules and obligations.