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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How do social factors like poverty and lack of education contribute to the recruitment of youth into drug trafficking networks in urban areas like Marseille?
**Interview with Dr. Camille Duval, a Sociologist and Expert on Urban Violence in France**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Duval. We are discussing a harrowing incident that took place in Marseille’s Frais-Vallon district, where two teenagers managed to escape from a drug trafficking network after being forcibly recruited to sell drugs. Can you share your insights on this situation?
**Dr. Duval:** Thank you for having me. This incident sheds light on a troubling trend we’ve seen in urban areas where young people are often caught in the crossfire of drug trafficking and gang violence. The fact that these boys felt the need to slip a note for help in the drug packages is chilling. It indicates not just their desperation but also the coercive tactics networks use to control vulnerable young individuals.
**Interviewer:** Indeed, their plea for help was quite desperate. What does this tell us about the current state of drug trafficking in Marseille, particularly in impoverished neighborhoods like Frais-Vallon?
**Dr. Duval:** Marseille has been grappling with significant gang violence, particularly related to drug trafficking. This violence has not only increased in frequency but has also started to affect younger demographics, who are often more susceptible to recruitment—either through manipulation or direct coercion. The fact that two 16-year-olds were targeted speaks volumes about the vulnerability of youth in these areas, where opportunities for legitimate work are scarce.
**Interviewer:** The upcoming trial for the accused, some of whom are also facing serious charges like rape, reflects a broader issue. How do these criminal activities intersect with social issues in Marseille?
**Dr. Duval:** Criminal activities like drug trafficking are deeply intertwined with social issues such as poverty, lack of education, and systemic inequality. In neighborhoods like Frais-Vallon, where economic opportunities are limited, young people may see no alternative but to engage in illicit activities. The gang dynamics further complicate this, as they often exert a strong influence on local youth, making it difficult for them to escape this cycle of violence and exploitation.
**Interviewer:** What steps do you think can be taken to address these problems moving forward?
**Dr. Duval:** It requires a multifaceted approach. First, we need to improve economic prospects in these communities by creating job opportunities and educational programs. Additionally, there should be greater investment in social services that can provide support to at-risk youth, helping them navigate away from gangs. Law enforcement also needs to adopt more community-centered strategies that prioritize prevention rather than just punitive measures.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Duval, for your insights. This is indeed a complex issue that requires urgent attention.
**Dr. Duval:** Thank you for bringing awareness to this critical situation. It is essential for society to recognize and address the root causes of such tragedies if we are to protect the youth and restore safety to our communities.