The mayor of Alès, Christophe Rivenq, has been placed under police protection and forced to leave his home after receiving a credible car bomb threat from the DZ Mafia, a powerful criminal syndicate operating in France. The decision was made by Interior Minister Laurent Nunez.
The DZ Mafia, which has established dominance over Marseille's drug network through violent killings, is reportedly attempting to expand its influence into Alès. This threat follows an earlier incident this month where Mayor Rivenq received 9mm bullets in his mailbox and threatening graffiti appeared on his home, according to the National Prosecutor's Office for the Fight Against Organized Crime (PNACO).
PNACO, a unit recently formed to combat surging drug crime and the DZ Mafia, has taken over the investigation. The gang, whose name is derived from 'Dzayer' (Algeria in the Berber language), has claimed responsibility for violent acts since a notable murder in March 2023, which they publicized by posting images of the victim.
This incident highlights a broader trend of escalating drug-related violence across France, a phenomenon that then-Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin previously described as leading the country toward a 'Mexicanized narco-state.' While gangland killings are becoming more frequent, attacks targeting elected officials remain rare.
Recent years have seen a surge in drug-related violence impacting communities nationwide. Incidents include teenagers and children being harmed in crossfires, gang leaders escaping custody, and drug trafficking becoming increasingly visible, even on beaches. In Poitiers, a 15-year-old boy was killed in November during a large-scale brawl and gunfight involving hundreds of people. In Rennes, a five-year-old boy was critically injured by a stray bullet during a drug-related incident.
Gun battles between drug gangs, once primarily concentrated in Marseille, have become more common in cities like Grenoble and have spread to other areas including Poitiers, Clermont-Ferrand, Valence, and Villeurbanne. These conflicts have resulted in fatalities and injuries, with young people frequently caught in the violence. Statistics reveal at least 16 significant hotspots of violence have emerged across the country in recent years.