French Riviera War Zone: When Drugs Rule

Marseille is currently the battleground for ruthless gangs vying for control of the lucrative drug market. The economic stakes are immense, with drug trafficking generating over thirty million euros monthly, intricately woven into the local economy. Real estate investments, money laundering, luxury boutiques, sports clubs, beauty salons – every sector reaps the benefits. Slowly but surely, the drug trade has engulfed the entire city of Marseille.

Over the past few months, we closely followed the efforts of the Marseille police, the Anti-Narcotics Office, and specialized squads dedicated to disrupting the drug trade. The heart of the city hosts around two hundred points of sale for illegal drugs, some raking in as much as 100,000 euros daily. The Marseille police are resolute in dismantling this network; in just the first half of 2021, they apprehended 8,000 drug traffickers, 60% of whom were armed with weapons, often military-grade.

These gangs have transformed the northern neighborhoods of Marseille into crime empires. To comprehend the inner workings of these organizations, we met with some of their members. Operating within highly hierarchical structures, they are managed like legitimate businesses. However, death is an ever-present companion, and among the extensive list of casualties, many are innocent civilians. For the families who have lost loved ones, the pain is unending – they are the collateral victims of an increasingly bloody gang war in Marseille.