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.
Read also | Article reserved for our subscribers In Marseille, the misery of the little hands of drug trafficking: “They didn’t even give me money”
Read later
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”.
You have 45.93% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.
1732545994
#members #Marseille #drug #network #court #reduced #minors #slavery
How can communities effectively implement preventive measures to protect young people from being coerced into drug-related activities and violence?
**Interview with Dr. Marc Dupont, a sociologist specializing in urban violence and youth crime**
**Interviewer**: Thank you for joining us, Dr. Dupont. We’re discussing a harrowing situation in the Frais-Vallon district of Marseille, where two young boys slipped an SOS note to clients during drug transactions to escape their captors. Can you help us understand the implications of this event?
**Dr. Dupont**: Thank you for having me. What happened in Frais-Vallon is indeed alarming and reflects a broader issue of youth vulnerability in urban environments, particularly in areas plagued by drug trafficking and gang violence. The fact that these boys, aged only 15, felt desperate enough to write a note for help while engaging in drug dealing speaks volumes about the coercive environments they find themselves in.
**Interviewer**: The note indicated they were being forced to sell drugs and were subjected to violence. How common is this kind of forced recruitment in drug networks?
**Dr. Dupont**: Unfortunately, it’s a growing phenomenon. Many drug networks resort to brutal methods to recruit young people, often exploiting their socio-economic vulnerabilities. The tactics used to control and manipulate these youths can be incredibly violent and psychologically damaging, which aligns with what we see in the case of Younes and Kevin.
**Interviewer**: As we know, the court case involving the six accused is starting today. What are the potential outcomes for these young defendants, and how might this case influence public perception and policy?
**Dr. Dupont**: The court proceedings could lead to significant sentences, especially given the serious nature of the accusations, including kidnapping and sexual violence. Public perception will likely be influenced by the spotlight on the harsh realities of youth in drug trade scenarios. This could prompt calls for better intervention strategies and support systems for at-risk youth to prevent such exploitation.
**Interviewer**: Given the context of increased violence and drug-related crime in Marseille, as discussed in previous reports, what preventive measures do you think can be effective?
**Dr. Dupont**: Comprehensive approaches are crucial. This includes enhancing community programs that provide support and alternatives for youth, increasing resources for law enforcement to dismantle these networks effectively, and fostering collaboration between social services and law enforcement. Education also plays a vital role in equipping young people with the tools to resist recruitment into such dangerous situations.
**Interviewer**: Thank you for your insights, Dr. Dupont. The situation in Marseille sheds light on the urgent need for broader societal changes to protect vulnerable young populations.
**Dr. Dupont**: It’s my pleasure. The community must work together to ensure that no young person feels they have to resort to such dangerous circumstances for survival.
