French President Emmanuel Macron has announced a pioneering crackdown on drug trafficking in Marseille, France's second-largest city, on Tuesday.
The French leader revealed the unprecedented operation in an unscheduled visit to the Mediterranean city, a statement on social media reveals. Macron was joined by Minister of Home Affairs Gérald Darmanin, Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti, and Secretary of State for the City Sabrina Agresti-Roubache.
The operation, dubbed "Comprehensive Clean-up XXL," will deploy significant police forces for several weeks. Macron's appearance coincides with important arrests against the two main gangs, the "DZ Mafia" and "Yoda," which are embroiled in a turf war over drug control in Marseille.
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Last week, 13 suspected young members of the "DZ Mafia" were caught by the police in Marseille, Rennes and the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence on suspicion of attempted murder in Spain. Ten have since been charged, according to the Marseille prosecutor's office.
The arrests follow shortly after the apprehension in Morocco of Félix Bingui, alias "le chat" ('the cat' in English), the alleged leader of the "Yoda" clan, a rival to the "DZ Mafia" in Marseille.
The territorial war over lucrative drug-dealing spots blooded the city as never before in 2023, with 49 people killed in narcotic-related homicides, including four collateral victims.
Organised crime groups from Marseille are also operating in Brussels.
