“A historic level never reached. » The public prosecutor of Marseille Nicolas Bessone drew up this Thursday at a press conference the 2023 assessment of narcobanditism and narchomicide, a term which he takes up as “the facts do not aim, as for the settling of scores, individuals involved at a certain level of responsibility. This year, 47 people died in Marseille due to drug trafficking, and 118 were injured “as part of assassination attempts”. Last year, the results showed 33 deaths and 43 injuries. Narcobantism has taken yet another turn, of which here are the salient facts.
More and more minors among the victims… and a general rejuvenation
Among the 47 victims, there were 7 minors. “At the level of the perpetrators, there is a very strong rejuvenation of the accused,” notes the prosecutor. Thus, of all the people indicted in 2023 for intentional homicide or attempted assassination, 11% were minors (or six in total) and 51% were aged 18 to 21. Young suspected killers aged 18 and 19, arrested and indicted in the first half of the year, even had no prior record. “During the year, we saw more and more young people in an irregular situation appear,” also indicates Nicolas Bessone, who makes the link with “the vital risk incurred” on the deal points, at the heart of a clan war between the DZ Mafia and the Yodas.
More and more women involved in narcotics
This is another point that the prosecutor underlines: the “feminization” of the accused. Thus, in 2023, four women were indicted for preparing an assassination. Women thus seem to be moving away from their more traditional role of nanny to “take a more active role in the management of the deal point but also in the organization of the assassination,” says Nicolas Bessone. They would thus be “able to replace their incarcerated companion or member of their entourage. »
Arrests in flagrante delicto over assassinations
The thing is also “new” to hear from the Marseille prosecutor, who praises the work of the judicial police: the arrest in flagrante delicto of assassinations. “Five different teams of killers were arrested and brought before the investigating judge,” says Nicolas Bessone. These arrests after investigations allow, according to him, not to work on the event but also “on teams, criminal associations”. And the “imminent” appointment, by the Ministry of Justice, of two positions of liaison magistrates in Dubai and the Caribbean should make it “more easy to trace back to the sponsors of the drug networks”. Enough to sketch a little hope after a year 2023 marked by a clan war which, since November 13 “has not made a new assault” following a wave of arrests. “We never have such a long period without facts,” notes Nicolas Bessone,” adding immediately: “But it remains fragile.”