Published: 10 Oct 2024 17:44 GMT
The attacker would have been recruited online by members of a drug trafficking network in Marseille in exchange for payment of 50,000 euros to murder members of a rival cartel.
Hundreds of people went to the Mediterranean mosque in Marseille this Tuesday to say goodbye to Nessim Ramdanecollateral victim of a reckoning linked to drug trafficking. The 36-year-old man worked as a VTC driver (transport vehicles with drivers) and was shot dead last Friday by a 14-year-old hitman who took over his vehicle to fulfill a contract in Marseille, France.
“He had nothing to do with all this vulgarity and barbarity,” said Ali Benattia, 72, who introduced himself as the uncle of the deceased.
Supposedly, the attacker had been recruited online by members of a Marseille drug trafficking network in exchange for pay of 50,000 euros to assassinate members of a rival cartel. On the night of the crime, along with another minor, they would have asked the driver to leave them and wait for them while they carried out their macabre mission, but Ramdane refused, at which point the hitman fatally shot him in the back of the headwith a 357 Magnum revolver, they collect local media.
Passionate about football and father of three childrenRamdane is described by his relatives as a hard-working man willing to sacrifice himself for the well-being of his family. It was also a emblematic figure of local footballsince he wore the jerseys of numerous clubs in the region during his amateur career and coached the children of the Saint-Zacharie club, where he lived with his family, explains his uncle.
“The Growing Menace of Teen Hitmen in Marseille: A Dark Legacy of Radicalization and Revenge”
As I read through the disturbing reports of teenage hitmen wreaking havoc in Marseille, France, I couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of concern and outrage. The recent incidents, including the tragic death of Nessim Ramdane, a 36-year-old VTC driver who was shot dead by a 14-year-old hitman, highlight the grim reality of Marseille’s ongoing drug war. It’s a conflict that has morphed into a playground for radicalized youth, armed and organized by rival cartels.
Recruitment Online: The Unsettling Trend
According to recent reports, teenage hitmen are being recruited online by members of a drug trafficking network in Marseille for as little as 50,000 euros to carry out contract killings [[2]]. This wave of online recruitment has enabled cartels to infiltrate Marseille’s communities, radicalizing young minds and turning them into lethal pawns in their deadly game of power and profit.
Growing Public Outrage and Government Inaction
As the violence escalates, the public is increasingly frustrated with the authorities’ inability to stem the tide of these brutal attacks [[2]]. The recent deaths, including Ramdane’s, have sparked widespread outrage, with Marseille’s public prosecutor publicly highlighting the growing menace of youth-driven violence in the city’s streets.
Why Marseille? The Inescapable Environment of Crime
Marseille, once a beacon of Mediterranean tourism and culture, has become increasingly notorious for its lawlessness and organized crime. The city’s reputation is plagued by stories of gangs fighting for control of its lucrative marijuana and heroin trade [[3]]. Teenagers growing up in this atmosphere of violence are increasingly exposed to a world where crime seems a part of the fabric.
Fractured Families and Lost Generations
The sad reality is that these teen hitmen are products of a society that has failed to address issues of poverty, unemployment, and social inequality. With broken families and stunted educational opportunities, these young people are frequently left vulnerable to recruitment by ruthless cartels. As I write these words, I fear that we are losing an entire generation to this unforgiving, hard-hearted environment of violence.
Radicalization by Crime, Not Ideology
What some consider radicalization by crime, I term it ‘enslavement by opportunity’, brought on by circumstances devoid of healthy options. These young lives could instead thrive with educational, cultural or social provisions, but it’s a solution dismissed in favor of violence. Marseille needs to rise above petty ideology to embrace collective social responsibility.
As Ramdane’s friends and family bid farewell to the young father, they embody a society forced to endure deathly consequences inflicted by its very youth. Our collective humanity yearns for answers. Can France turn its children back?
