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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In what ways can community programs be designed to effectively prevent youth involvement in crime and support at-risk individuals?
**Interview with Dr. Marie Dupont, Sociologist and Expert on Youth Crime in Urban Areas**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Dupont. The events unfolding in the Frais-Vallon district of Marseille have raised serious concerns about youth safety and gang violence. Could you summarize what has happened with the two teenagers who escaped from the drug-trafficking network?
**Dr. Dupont:** Thank you for having me. This situation is distressing and highlights the severe challenges faced by at-risk youth in urban environments. Two 16-year-old boys, whom we’ll refer to as Younes and Kevin for their safety, were lured into this network and forced to sell drugs. In a desperate act for help, they managed to slip a note to clients, pleading for assistance from authorities. Ultimately, it was the firefighters who rescued them after they jumped from a second-floor window to escape their captors[[1](https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/28/europe/marseille-drugs-violence-racism-france-intl-cmd/index.html)].
**Interviewer:** That’s harrowing. What can you tell us about the trial currently underway for the individuals accused of these crimes?
**Dr. Dupont:** Yes, the trial of six young adults, some in their twenties, is set to address the serious charges of kidnapping and violence against these teenagers. Disturbingly, three of the accused also face charges of rape. This case not only highlights individual acts of violence but also reflects the broader societal issues at play, including the exploitation of vulnerable youth in drug trafficking networks, particularly in areas like Frais-Vallon[[1](https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/28/europe/marseille-drugs-violence-racism-france-intl-cmd/index.html)].
**Interviewer:** How do you think systemic issues contribute to such situations in neighborhoods like Frais-Vallon?
**Dr. Dupont:** The systemic issues are deeply entrenched; we’re talking about a cocktail of poverty, lack of educational opportunities, and limited access to meaningful employment. In many cases, young people feel that drug trafficking is one of the few options available to them. The environment can be brutal, where gangs utilize severe methods to recruit and control their members[[1](https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/28/europe/marseille-drugs-violence-racism-france-intl-cmd/index.html)]. This not only perpetuates violence but also deeply scars the community.
**Interviewer:** In your opinion, what can be done to prevent such situations in the future?
**Dr. Dupont:** Prevention requires a multifaceted approach. We need community programs that provide youth with alternatives to drug trafficking, such as vocational training and recreation. Additionally, law enforcement must work closely with social services to address the root causes of youth vulnerability. Education plays a critical role, alongside community engagement to foster a sense of belonging and support[[1](https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/28/europe/marseille-drugs-violence-racism-france-intl-cmd/index.html)].
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Dupont, for sharing your insights on this troubling issue. We hope for a swift and just outcome for the victims and community affected by these events.
**Dr. Dupont:** Thank you for shedding light on this critical topic. It’s important to keep these discussions going.