French mayor forced into hiding as drug cartels unleash hell | World | News
A French mayor has been forced into hiding because he fears he will be targeted by the country’s most feared drug cartel. Alès, a sub-county city in southern France, was at the center of a major escalation in the war between the authorities and the DZ Mafia, a powerful criminal organization operating primarily near Marseille.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said he dismissed the mayor of Alès, Christophe Rivenq, due to credible intelligence suggesting that an attack by gang members was imminent, Reuters reported. Mr Rivenq was taken away by police in the early hours of Tuesday and is under the guard of officers at a secret location. This follows a chilling threat made to the politician, a member of the right-wing Les Républicains party, earlier this month.
The National Prosecutor’s Office to Combat Organized Crime (PNACO), which was recently established specifically to combat these criminal networks, said it found 9mm bullets left in Mr Rivenq’s mailbox and threatening graffiti on the walls of his home. France 24 reports.
He remained defiant after the incident, telling reporters: “I will not bow to threats or intimidations. We must not bow here or anywhere else, otherwise it will mean the failure of the Republic.”
However, the authorities appear to have decided that the threats against him were serious enough to warrant taking serious steps for his safety.
Mr Nunez said the DZ Mafia was “clearly” trying to gain a foothold in Alès. This comes as authorities seek to crack down on organized crime across the country.
DZ Mafia started as a minor player in Marseille’s drug trade before expanding its influence into surrounding areas.
Although often described as a gang or cartel, experts note that they have a less hierarchical mafia-style leadership structure, operating more like local franchises, aligning with the organization to gain access to their influence and resources.
But like traditional crime groups, DZ Mafia is known for its ruthlessness and a number of murders are believed to be linked to the organisation.
Its rise has coincided with a rise in violence in French cities as rival drug dealers vie for control with the value of the illicit drug market rising in recent years.
According to a report published by the French Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (OFDT) at the end of last year, it has risen from an estimated €2.3bn (about £1.9bn) to €6.8bn (£5.8bn) between 2010 and 2023, according to the news agency.
