In a dramatic nighttime operation, Christophe Rivenq, mayor of the southern French town of Alès, was escorted from his home by members of the elite RAID police unit. The move followed credible intelligence about an imminent attack from the DZ Mafia, a feared drug gang rooted in Marseille. Rivenq, a member of the Les Républicains political party, is now under 24-hour police protection at a secure, undisclosed location.
The mayor had already faced escalating threats in recent weeks. Earlier this month, he discovered 9mm bullets in his mailbox and found threatening graffiti on the walls of his home. Authorities also reported a suspicious vehicle parked near his residence, believed to potentially carry explosives. These incidents led Interior Minister Laurent Nunez to order Rivenq’s removal to ensure his safety and prevent a possible attack.
Alès, a small town of approximately 46,000 people in the Gard region of France, has now become a focal point in the war against the DZ Mafia. The gang is trying to replace or dominate local networks in the area. Over the past months, a surge in violent incidents has occurred. In June, an 18-year-old man was fatally shot in the Près-Saint-Jean neighborhood, a known hotbed for drug activity. A man in his 50s was killed near a drug hotspot in mid-January, and days before the June shooting, a group from the Paris region was attacked with automatic gunfire in the same area.
Once limited to Marseille, the DZ Mafia has expanded its reach, becoming a significant threat across the country. The gang operates more like a decentralized franchise network than a traditional mafia structure. This model has enabled rapid expansion and a capacity for calculated violence. Experts like Yann Bisiou from Paul-Valéry University in Montpellier note that the gang's success is fueled by its brand-like identity and a decentralized network.
A recent report from France’s French Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction highlights the staggering growth in the country’s illicit drug trade. Between 2010 and 2023, the value of the drug market nearly tripled, reaching €6.8 billion. The rising demand for cocaine and other drugs has provided the DZ Mafia and other groups with a steady influx of cash. This financial backing has allowed them to acquire better weapons and expand their operations, contributing to the rising violence.
To address this growing crisis, the French government has launched a new unit under the National Prosecutor's Office for the Fight Against Organised Crime. The Alès case marks one of their key assignments. It demonstrates how the war on drugs in France has become more dangerous and unpredictable, with drug-related violence spilling into new regions and threatening local leaders.
Despite the danger, Rivenq has publicly refused to let the threats stop him from serving his community. After finding bullets in his mailbox, he made a bold statement to journalists: "I will not give in to threats or intimidation. We must not give in here or anywhere else, otherwise it will spell the failure of the Republic." His words reflect the determination of elected officials to resist the growing wave of violence. While attacks on politicians remain rare, they are increasingly reported, signaling a concerning trend in France.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez emphasized the broader implications of the situation in Alès. "Alès is clearly a place where the DZ Mafia is trying to establish a foothold," he stated. The government remains focused on countering these threats. As the DZ Mafia continues to expand, the challenge for French authorities will be to not only dismantle their operations but also to protect local leaders and communities from the gang’s escalating violence.