2024-11-25 09:01:00
The Frais-Vallon district, in Marseille, in January 2024. VALLAURI NICOLAS/MAXPPP
With the drugs that they gave to their clients during the transactions, the two young dealers slipped in an SOS, a small note scribbled: “Hello, we are sequestered by the network. Please call the police. He forces us to sell for free and beats us with bars. Please we need help (we are 15 years old). » Despite these discreet calls for help, it was not a consumer who rescued them from the clutches of the Frais-Vallon network, but the firefighters, after they had jumped from the second floor of a tower to escape to their captors.
The Bouches-du-Rhône Assize Court will judge, from Monday, November 25, six young people from Marseille for the kidnapping and violence inflicted over several days on two 16-year-old teenagers, forcibly recruited to sell drugs. Three of the accused – they are all in their twenties – also answer for rape of one of the two victims.
Both runaways, Younes and Kevin – the first names have been changed – showed up on January 21, 2022 in Frais-Vallon, a city in the northern districts of Marseille, to sell drugs. A member of the network promises them remuneration of 100 euros per day and accommodation in “a hotel with a jacuzzi”. At the end of the session, the tone changes suddenly, the two teenagers are accused of a 500 euro hole in the accounts, the first blows rain down on the deal point, at the foot of the “red tower”. In a room where they are taken, “from three, they went to a good ten and they played with us”Younes said. “We were pissing blood”reported Kevin, forced to get naked and dance in front of phones filming him for social networks.
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An anonymous tip to the police indicated that the two young boys had been forced to perform oral sex on each other, which they disputed. “I would have gone for revenge if that had been it. Now, I don’t even want revenge. The blows go away. We were the ones who made idiots of going to work in their neighborhood”explained Younes. The teenager will no longer respond to any summons from investigators or the investigating judge. He had not looked his torturers in the eyes so as not to be able to identify them. A year after the events, Younes’ father requested the withdrawal of his son’s complaint “for fear of being found and attacked again”.
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What are the main factors contributing to the rise of youth exploitation in drug-related violence in urban areas like Marseille?
**Interview with Dr. Sarah Jubilee, Criminologist and Sociologist Specializing in Drug-related Violence in Urban Areas**
**Host:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Jubilee. We are discussing the alarming rise of violence and exploitation among youth in Marseille, particularly in the Frais-Vallon district. Can you provide some context on the recent case involving the two teenagers forced into drug dealing?
**Dr. Jubilee:** Absolutely, thank you for having me. This case is a grim representation of a growing trend we’ve seen in Marseille, where minors are increasingly being exploited by drug networks. In January 2024, two 16-year-olds were kidnapped and coerced into selling drugs. Their desperate SOS note revealed the extent of their suffering—a heartbreaking cry for help that illustrates not only their victimization but also the harsh reality many young people face in these environments.
**Host:** The details of their situation are shocking. How prevalent is this kind of exploitation of young people in drug sales in Marseille?
**Dr. Jubilee:** Unfortunately, it’s becoming alarmingly common. As drug trafficking intensifies, particularly in France’s second-largest city, gangs often look to minors to carry out these operations. They see them as expendable assets. Recent research indicates that the use of young people—often aged 15 to 17—as drug couriers or dealers leads to their entrapment in violent, exploitative situations, such as what Younes and Kevin experienced.
**Host:** The court case that opened today highlights serious charges against six young individuals. What legal and social implications does this hold for the community?
**Dr. Jubilee:** The case underscores a pivotal moment for social justice and legal reform in addressing youth violence and exploitation. On one hand, it draws attention to the need for more robust protections for vulnerable youth. On the other, it raises questions about the systemic issues that allow such networks to flourish. Greater awareness and preventive measures are essential, including education and community support to help at-risk youths before they become victims or perpetrators.
**Host:** What can be done to help combat this issue at the community level?
**Dr. Jubilee:** Communities need to engage in proactive strategies. This includes fostering trust between law enforcement and at-risk youth, street outreach programs that provide alternatives to gang involvement, and mental health support to help these young people cope with trauma. Collaboration among local governments, NGOs, and educational institutions is crucial to create environments where youth feel safe and valued, rather than trapped by violence and crime.
**Host:** Thank you, Dr. Jubilee, for your insights into this troubling situation in Marseille. Your expertise is invaluable as we seek to understand and combat youth exploitation in our cities.
**Dr. Jubilee:** Thank you for having me. It’s vital that we continue this conversation and advocate for the protection and upliftment of our youth.
