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 youth involvement in drug trafficking in Marseille’s Frais-Vallon district?
**Interview with Law Expert Dr. Laura Ricci on the Drug Crisis in Marseille’s Frais-Vallon District**
**Interviewer**: Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Ricci. We’ve recently heard troubling reports about the alarming situation in the Frais-Vallon district of Marseille, especially concerning young teenagers being coerced into drug dealing. Can you provide some context on this issue?
**Dr. Ricci**: Certainly. The situation in Marseille, and particularly in urban areas like Frais-Vallon, reflects a broader crisis of youth involvement in drug trafficking. The recent revelations about two 15-year-olds who managed to send an SOS note hidden within drug packages highlight the extreme situations these young individuals are facing. It’s not just about drug use; many are being forced into this life, often under threats of violence or even worse.
**Interviewer**: What do you think drives these young people to be involved in such dangerous activities?
**Dr. Ricci**: There are multiple factors at play. Poverty, lack of educational opportunities, and the allure of quick money can drive adolescents towards gangs and drug networks. Additionally, peer pressure and a desperate need for acceptance among their peers can contribute to their involvement. In this recent case, even after escaping, the two boys had to jump from a second floor to flee their captors. This speaks to the life-threatening risks they endure.
**Interviewer**: The details about their captors and the subsequent court case are particularly shocking. What can you tell us about the judicial response to these events?
**Dr. Ricci**: The upcoming trial of six individuals linked to kidnapping and violence—including serious charges of rape—highlights a critical moment for the judicial system in addressing the exploitation of minors in drug trafficking. These cases can serve as a precedent for how the legal system manages similar incidents in the future. We need to ensure that prosecutions not only seek punishment but also address the underlying social issues that contribute to this cycle of violence and exploitation.
**Interviewer**: Given the violent undertones in these incidents, what could be done to better support at-risk youths in these neighborhoods?
**Dr. Ricci**: A multifaceted approach is necessary. First, enhancing community programs that offer support, education, and alternatives to gang involvement is crucial. There also needs to be collaboration between law enforcement and social services to create safe environments for young people. Ultimately, broader socio-economic reforms could alleviate some of the pressures that lead kids into these situations.
**Interviewer**: Thank you, Dr. Ricci, for this insightful discussion. The situations in places like Frais-Vallon are complex and underline the urgent need for community and institutional responses to protect vulnerable youth.
**Dr. Ricci**: Thank you for having me. It’s essential that we continue to shed light on these issues and advocate for significant changes.
