The city of Marseille, with a population of around 860,000, has been facing a crisis in recent times, concerning the recruitment of boys as young as 15 years old by drug-trafficking gangs. The situation has escalated to a whole new level as a result of a spate of murders in the city, including one where a 15-year-old was burned alive and another carried out by a 14-year-old hitman-for-hire. These incidents have sparked outrage across France, shedding light on the drug war that has been plaguing the country’s second-largest city.
The two murders, which occurred only two days apart, are part of an ongoing feud between two rival gangs, DZ Mafia and the New Blacks, fighting over a drug dealing territory in Marseille’s 3rd arrondissement. Known for being dangerous, the areas north of the seaside city, referred to as “les quartiers nords”, have gained notoriety for drug-related crimes and violence. In one instance, a teenager was stabbed 50 times, while in another, a taxi driver was shot dead by a 14-year-old recruited by the gangs.
Marseille’s public prosecutor, Nicolas Bessone, revealed in a press conference that the 15-year-old boy was recruited by an inmate to set fire to a rival dealer’s front door in exchange for a fee of €2,000. Tragically, he was attacked by rival gang members on his way to carry out the task and ended up being stabbed multiple times before being burned alive. The recruiter did not stop there, as he went on to recruit another teenager, offering him €50,000 to assassinate a rival gang member, resulting in the death of a taxi driver.
The public outrage over these incidents has raised concerns about the level of violence and criminal activity in Marseille. Bessone highlighted the growing violence in the city, warning of further escalation due to the flow of money that corrupts and leads to deadly outcomes. Criminals have been targeting vulnerable youth through ads on social media platforms like Snapchat, enticing them with promises of quick cash in exchange for committing violent crimes.
Although the number of drug-related deaths in Marseille decreased in the first few months of 2024 compared to the previous year, the issue of drug trafficking and gang violence remains a significant problem in the city. French authorities have been struggling for decades to address the situation, while residents feel neglected and abandoned by the authorities. The drug trafficking market in France generates billions of euros annually, with Marseille alone seeing the dismantling of multiple drug dealing points daily.
Last year, French law enforcement seized substantial amounts of cannabis, criminal assets, and weapons in the region around Marseille, indicating the scale of the criminal activities taking place in the city. The public prosecutor has announced the opening of several investigations into the recent murders, focusing on the organized gang involvement in the deaths of the teenagers and the taxi driver. As the city continues to grapple with the rise in violence and criminal activity, authorities are working to address the root causes of the issue to ensure the safety and security of Marseille’s residents.
