Panic in France as children fall victim to lethal violence of Marseille drug gangs

Marseille, France is experiencing a surge in drug-related violence, leading to widespread fear and trauma. The violence is characterized by increasingly random acts, the involvement of children, and a breakdown of traditional gang codes. Teenagers are being coerced into the drug trade, paid little, and used to commit murders. The Ministry of Justice estimates a four-fold increase in teenage involvement in the drug trade over the past eight years. Authorities and community members are debating how to address the crisis, with some advocating for tougher policing and others for addressing underlying poverty. The situation has become so dire that some lawyers are no longer representing victims of gang violence due to fear of reprisal.

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