Overview
- Mehdi Kessaci, 20, was shot from a motorbike in central Marseille, and prosecutors said he was not a random victim.
- Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez described the shooting as an intimidation operation tied to drug dealers and mafia leaders.
- French media report that investigators suspect a DZ Mafia boss could have ordered the killing, citing information attributed to Le Parisien.
- President Emmanuel Macron faulted recreational cocaine and hash users, including wealthy city residents, for helping finance trafficking networks.
- Amine Kessaci, a prominent anti‑drug activist and the victim’s brother, has amplified national outrage as authorities note nearly 50 drug‑war deaths in 2023 and 14 so far this year in the Marseille area.