Just days before Monaco’s biggest weekend of the year, authorities have launched a bold new anti-drug operation—beginning with surprise passenger checks at the Monaco heliport on Monday.

With the world’s spotlight turning to the Principality for the Formula 1 Grand Prix and a flurry of luxury events, the Parquet Général (Public Prosecutor’s Office) is tightening its grip on illegal activity during party season.

Acting under expanded legal powers introduced in 2024, Monaco’s Public Security officers, assisted by drug-sniffing dogs and members of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, swept passengers and luggage from nine helicopter flights entering and leaving the city.

According to a press release from the Public Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday, the operation resulted in the seizure of one gram of cocaine and an official procedure has been opened.

Officials say the message is clear: Monaco’s border points—air, land or sea—are under heightened scrutiny.

These operations are expected to continue regularly, not only at the heliport but across the Principality, as authorities move to ensure that glamour doesn’t overshadow the law during one of the most high-profile weekends on the global calendar.

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Photo source: Monaco Government Communication