28 Members of Marseille’s DZ Mafia Arrested in Major Extortion Crackdown

French police target organized crime group suspected of extorting local businesses and seizing control of establishments in Marseille.

French authorities arrested 28 suspected members of the DZ Mafia, a powerful organized crime group based in Marseille, as part of an investigation into extortion and organized racketeering.
The DZ Mafia is accused of targeting high-profile businesses, including restaurants, nightclubs, and local stores, in an effort to expand its criminal operations beyond drug trafficking.
Police seized firearms, including a Kalashnikov rifle, and over €60,000 in cash during the operation, which involved the Brigade de Répression du Banditisme and other specialized units.
Several of those arrested are believed to be high-ranking members of the gang, including one leader allegedly operating from prison using smuggled phones.
Authorities view the gang's shift to extortion as both a challenge and an opportunity, as it moves into criminal activities that police have more experience combating.